Columbia  29nit)em'tj) 

mtJeCttpoflfttJgiJrk 

THE  LIBRARIES 


Bequest  of 

Frederic  Bancroft 

1860-1945 


-'/:* 


ELIAS  HICKS 


FROM    BUST    BY     PARTHIDGE 


THE  LIFE  AND  LABORS 


OF 


ELIAS   HICKS 


BY 


Henry    W.   Wilbur 


Introduction   by 
ELIZABETH    POWELL  BOND 


PHILADELPHIA 

Published   by    Fri^ndf^'    Geiieful",  (J^onferaace    Advancement    Committee 


COPYRIGHTED     IQIO    BY 
ITENRY  W.  WILBUR 


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Qj  CONTENTS. 

**          T.is'i-  OF  Tr.LusiK.\-ii()\s 5 

^               Al   rHOR  S     I  'RKI-AfK 7 

^r^          1  .\  rRonx'C'i  ION     II 

Chapter   I.   Ancestry  and    I'.oyhnod 17 

Chapter  II.  [lis  Yonng  Manhood 22 

Chapter  III,  First  A])])earance  in  the  Ministry 28 

Chapter    I\'.    i^arly   l>al)ors   in   the   Ministry 32 

Cif AFTER  \  .  Later  Ministerial   Labors 3S 

Chapter  \  1.   Religions  jonrneys  in    1828 4() 

Chapter  \'11,  Ideas  Ahont  the  ^Ministry ^J 

Chapter  \'1II.  The   Home  at  Jericho 66 

Chapter   IX.  The   Hicks   Family 71 

Chapter  X.  f.etters  to  His  Wife 76 

Chapter  XI.  The  Slavery  Qnestion 84 

Chapter  XII.  \^arions  Opinions 95 

Chapter  XIII.  Some  Points  of  Doctrine 107 

Chapter  XI\",  Before  the  Division 121 

Chapter  X\'.  First  Tronble  in  Philadelphia 126 

Chapter  XVI.  The  Time  of  LTnsettlement ^  i.^'V 

Chapter  X\  II.  Three  Sermons  Reviewed 15- 

Chapter  X\  111.  The  Ih-aithwaite  Controversy i6r 


4  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF   FIJAS    illCKS 

CiiAi'TEK  XJX,  Ann  Jones  in  Dutchess  County i/i 

Chapter  XX,  The  Experience  with  T.  ShilHtoe i8i 

Chapter  XXI,  Disownnient  and   Doctrine i88 

Chapter  XXII,  After  the  '"Separation" 195 

Chapter  XXIII,  Friendly  and  Unfriendly  Critics 202 

Chapter  XXIV^,  Recollections,  Reminiscences  and  Testi- 
monies      211 

Chapter  XX\\  I'utting  ott  the  Harness 218 

Appendix    226 


LIST  OF  II.LUS  rkATIOXS. 

Elias  Hicks   (  from  bust,  by   I'artridgc  i Frontispiece 

Hicks  Housk  and  Jkkuho   Mi:i:i  ixc,   I  lorsi-..     facing..  57 

CiiiLDKKN  OF  Elias  Hk  ks,  facing 97 

Elias  FIicks  (from  painting,  by  Ketcham  )    facing 121 

Surveyor's  Plotiixi;,  uy  Elias  liicKs.   facing 144 

Facsimile  of  Letter,  facing 105 

BuRvixc  (iRorxD  Ai    Ikriciio.  facing 216 


AUTHOR'S    PREFACE. 

Elias  Hicks  was  a  much  misunderstood  man  in  his  own 
time,  and  the  lapse  of  eighty  years  since  his  death  has  done 
but  Httle  to  make  him  known  to  the  passing  generations. 
His  warm  personal  friends,  and  of  them  there  were  many, 
considered  him  little  less  than  a  saint ;  his  enemies,  some 
of  whom  were  intensely  bitter  in  their  personal  feeling, 
whate^•er  may  have  been  the  basis  of  their  judgment, 
believed  him  to  be  a  man  whose  influence  was  malevolent 
and  mischievous.  It  is  no  part  of  the  purpose  of  this  book 
to  attempt  to  reconcile  the  conflicting  estimates  touching 
the  life  and  character  of  this  remarkable  man.  On  the 
contrary,  our  hope  is  to  present  him  as  he  was,  in  his  own 
environment,  and  not  at  all  as  he  might  have  been  had  he 
lived  in  our  time,  or  as  his  admirers  would  have  him,  to 
make  him  conform  to  their  own  estimate.  In  this  biograph- 
ical task,  Elias  Hicks  becomes  largely  his  own  interpreter. 
As  he  measured  himself  in  private  correspondence  and  in 
public  utterance,  so  this  b(JC)k  will  endeavor  to  measure  him. 

We  believe  that  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he  carried 
the  fundamental  idea  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  as  delivered 
by  George  Fox,  to  its  logical  conclusion,  as  applied  to 
thought  and  life,  more  clearly  and  forcibly  than  any  of  his 
predecessors  or  contemporaries.  Not  a  few  of  those  who 
violently  opposed  him,  discounted  the  position  of  Fox  and 
Barclay  touching  the  Inner  Light,  and  gave  exaggerated 
importance  to  the  claims  of  evangelical  theology.  What- 
ever others  may  have  thought,  Elias  Hicks  believed  that  he 
preached    Christianity    of    the    pure    apostolic    type,    and 


8  1.IF1-.  AND   LAB(^RS  OF  ELIAS   HICKS 

Quakerism  as  it  was  delivered  by  the  founders.  It  should 
be  remembered  that  the  conformist  and  non-conformist 
disputants  of  tlie  seventeenth  century  talked  as  savagely 
alxDut  Fox  as  the  early  lu'neteenth  century  critics  did  about 
Hicks.  In  fact,  to  accept  the  theory  of  Fox  a])out  the 
nature  and  (office  of  the  indwelling  spirit,  necessarily 
develops  either  indifference  or  opposition  to  the  ])lans  and 
theories  f)f  what  was  in  the  time  of  Elias  Hicks,  if  it  is  not 
now,  the  popularly  accepted  theology. 

X()  attempt  has  been  made  to  write  a  comprehensive 
and  detailed  history  of  the  so-called  "separation."  So  far, 
however,  as  the  trouble  related  to  Elias  Hicks,  it  has  been 
considered,  and  as  much  light  as  possible  has  been  thrown 
on  the  case.  Necessarily  this  does  not  admit  of  very  much 
reference  to  the  setting  up  of  separate  meetings,  which  f(jl- 
lowed  the  open  rupture  of  1827-28,  or  the  contests  over 
property  which  occurred  after  the  death  of  Elias  Hicks. 
Even  the  causes  of  the  trouble  in  the  Societ}'  only  appear 
as  they  seem  necessary  to  make  plain  the  feeling  of  Elias 
Hicks  in  the  case,  and  the  attitude  of  his  op]ionents  toward 
him. 

In  dealing  with  the  doctrines  of  Elias  Hicks,  or  his 
\  iews  about  various  subjects,  we  have  endeavored  to  avoid 
the  one-sided  polic\-,  and  to  discriminate  between  the  mat- 
ters which  would  be  accepted  by  the  majority  of  those 
Friends  to-day  who  are  erroneously  made  to  bear  the  name 
of  Elias  Hicks,  and  the  theories  which  they  now  repudiate. 
On  the  other  hand,  his  most  conservative  and  peculiar  ideas 
are  given  equal  prominence  with  those  which  more  nearly 
conform  to  present-day  thought. 

In  stating  cases  of  antagonism,  especially  where  it 
aj)peared  in  public  meetings,  we  have  endeavored  rather  to 
give  samples,  than  to  repeat  and  amplify  occurrences  where 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OI'    I'.LIAS  HICKS  9 

the  same  i>iir])(>sc  and  s])iril  wvvc  exhibited.  The  citations 
in  the  honk  should,  therefore,  be  taken  as  types,  and  not  as 
mere  isohited  or  extraorchnary  occurrences. 

References  to  the  descendants  of  hTias  Hicks,  and 
other  matters  relatini;-  to  his  hfe.  which  do  not  seem  to 
naturally  belong-  in  the  coherent  and  detailed  story,  will  be 
found  in  the  appendix.  This  is  also  true  of  the  usual 
acknowledi^nient  of  assistance,  and  the  reference  to  the  pub- 
lished sources  of  information  consulted  i)y  the  author  in 
writing-  the  book. 

2 


INTRODUCTION. 

Now  and  again  a  human  life  is  lived  in  such  obedience 
to  the  "heavenly  vision"  that  it  becomes  an  authority  in 
other  lives.  The  unswerving  rectitude ;  whence  is  its  divine 
directness?  the  world  has  to  ask.  Its  clear-sightedness; 
how  comes  it  that  the  eye  is  single  to  the  true  course?  Its 
strength  to  endure;  from  what  fountain  flows  unfailing 
strength  ?  Its  quickening  sympathy ;  what  is  the  sweet 
secret  ? 

The  thought  of  the  world  fixes  itself  into  stereotyped 
and  imprisoning  forms  from  which  only  the  white  heat  of 
the  impassioned  seer  and  prophet  can  slowly  liberate  it. 
At  last  the  world  ceases  to  persecute  or  to  crucify  its 
liberator,  and  lo !  an  acknowledged  revelation  of  God! 
This  came  to  pass  in  the  seventeenth  century,  when  it  was 
given  George  Fox  to  see  and  to  proclaim  that  "there  was 
an  anointing  within  man  to  teach  him,  and  that  the  Lord 
would  teach  him,  himself." 

The  eighteenth  century  developed  another  teacher  in 
the  religious  society  of  Friends,  whose  message  has  been  a 
distinctly  lea\-ening  influence  in  the  thought  of  the  world. 
It  is  not  easy  to  account  for  Elias  Hicks.  He  was  not  the 
"son  of  a  prophet."  Nor  was  he  a  gift  from  the  schools 
of  the  time  in  which  he  lived.  In  the  "Journal  of  His  Life 
and  Religious  Labours,"  published  in  1832  by  Isaac  T. 
Hopper,  there  is  no  reference  to  school  days. 

There  is  one  clue  to  this  man  that  may  explain  much 
to  us.  Of  his  ancestry  he  says  in  the  restrained  language 
characteristic  of  h.is  writings,  "My  parents  were  descended 

II 


12  LIFE  AND  LABCIRS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

from  reputable  families,  and  sustained  a  gootl  character 
among  their  friends  and  those  who  knew  them."  ?Iere, 
then,  is  the  rock-foundation  upon  which  he  Ijuilded,  the 
factor  which  could  not  be  spared  from- the  life  which  he 
lived— that  in  his  veins  was  the  blood  of  those  who  had 
"sustained  a  good  character  among  those  who  knew^  them." 
Some  of  the  leisure  of  his  youth  had  been  given  to  fishing 
and  fowding,  which  he  looked  back  to  as  wholesome  recrea- 
tion, since  he  mostly  preferred  going  alone.  While  he 
w-aited  in  stillness  for  the  coming  of  the  fowl,  'his  mind  was 
at  times  so  taken  up  in  divine  meditations,  that  the  oppor- 
tunities were  seasons  of  instruction  and  comfort  to  him.' 
Out  of  these  meditations  grew  the  conviction  in  his  tendered 
soul  that  it  was  wanton  diversion  for  himself  and  his 
companions  to  destroy  the  small  birds  that  could  be  of  no 
use  to  them. 

Recalling  his  youth,  he  writes:  "Some  of  my  leisure 
hours  were  <jccupied  in  reading  the  Scriptures,  in  which  I 
took  considerable  delight,  and  it  tended  to  my  real  profit 
and  religious  improvement."  It  may  be  that  this  great 
classic  in  English,  as  well  as  library  of  ancient  history,  and 
book  of  spiritual  revelation,  was  not  only  the  food  that 
stimulated  his  spiritual  growth,  but  also  took  the  place  to 
him,  in  some  measure,  of  the  schools  as  a  means  of  culture. 
It  is  plain  to  see  that  he  had  what  is  the  first  requisite  for 
a  student — a  hungering'  mind.  The  alphabet  opened  to  him 
the  ways  and  means,  which  he  used  as  far  as  he  could,  for 
the  satisfying  of  this  divine  hunger.  A  new  book  pos- 
sessed for  him  such  charm,  it  is  said,  that  his  friends  who 
invited  him  for  a  social  visit,  knowing  this,  were  careful  to 
put  the  new  books  out  of  sight,  lest  he  should  become 
absorbed  in  them,  and  they  lose  his  ever- welcome  and  very 
entertaining  conversation.  He  even  had  experience  as  a 
teacher ;  and  the  testimony  is  given  by  an  aged  Friend,  once 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS  13 

his  pupil :  "1lie  manners  of  Elias  Hicks  were  so  mild,  his 
deportment  so  dignified,  and  his  conversation  so  instructive, 
that  it  left  an  impression  for  good  on  many  of  his  pupils' 
minds  that  time  never  effaced." 

11iat  he  had  not  the  teaching  of  the  sch(X)ls  narrowed 
his  own  resources,  and,  doubtless,  restricted  his  field  of 
\ision.  But  such  a  life  as  his,  that  garnered  wisdom  more 
than  knowledge  of  books,  is  a  great  encouragement  to  those 
who  have  not  had  the  opportunities  of  the  schools.  We 
might  not  know  without  being  told  that  he  had  missed  from 
his  equipment  a  college  degree ;  but  we  do  know  that  his 
endowment  of  sound  mind  was  supplemented  with  incor- 
ruptible character;  we  do  know  that  his  life  was  founded 
uj^on  belief  in  everlasting  truth  and  an  unchanging  integrity. 
The  record  of  his  unfolding  spiritual  life  shows  that 

"So  nigh  is  grandeur  to  our  dust, 
So  near  is  God  to  man, 
When  Duty  whispers  low,  'Thou  nuist,' 
The  youth  replies,  T  can.'  " 

There  is  evidence  that  Elias  Hicks  had  not  only  a 
hungering  mind,  but  that  he  had  in  marked  degree  the  open 
mind,  and  that  he  accorded  to  others  liberty  of  opinion. 
It  is  said  that  he  was  unwilling  that  his  discourses  be 
printed,  lest  they  become  a  bondage  to  other  minds.  He 
wrote  to  his  friend,  William  Poole:  "Therefore  every  gen- 
eration must  have  more  light  than  the  preceding  one ;  other- 
wise, they  must  sit  down  in  ease  in  the  labour  and  works  of 
their  predecessors."  And  he  left  a  word  of  caution  to 
approaching  age,  when  he  said  in  a  meeting  in  New  York : 
"The  old  folks  think  they  have  got  far  enough,  they  are 
settling  on  the  lees,  they  are  blocking  up  the  way."  It  does 
not  disturb  luy  thought  of  him  that  my  own  uK^ther  remem- 
bered a  mild  rebuke  from  him  for  the  modest  fiower-bed 
that  brightened  the  door-yard  of  her  country  home.     For  I 


14  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

discc)\er  in  him  rudiments  of  the  love  for  beauty.  A  min- 
ister among-  Friends  was  once  his  guest  during  the  harvest 
season  on  Long  Island,  and  recalled  long  after  that,  when 
the  hour  arrived  for  the  mid-week  meeting,  he  came  in  from 
the  harvest  held,  and  not  onl}'  exchanged  his  working  for 
his  meeting  garments,  but  added  his  gloves,  although  it 
was  hot.  midsummer  weather.  There  was  certainly  the  rudi- 
mentar}'  love  for  beaut}-  in  this  scrupulous  regard  for  the 
proprieties;  but  it  was  kept  in  such  severe  check  that  he 
could  not  justif}'  the  spending  of  time  upon  a  flower-border. 
The  poet  had  not  then  e.\[)ressed  for  us  the  sweet  garden 
prayer  that  might  have  brought  to  his  sensitive  mind  a  new 
view  of  the  purpose  and  value  of  the  flower-border : 

"That   we  were  earthlings  and  of  earth  must  live, 
Tliou  knowest,  Allah,  and  did'st  give  us  bread ; 
Yea,  and  remembering  of  our  souls,  didst  give 
Us  food  of  flowers ;   thy  name  be  hallowed :" 

From  the  days  in  which  he  preferred  his  hoiu's  of 
solitude  in  fishing  as  opportunities  for  "divine  meditations'' 
we  can  trace  his  stead}'  spiritual  growth.  While  his  busi- 
ness life  was  henceforth  subordinated  to  his  labors  among 
men  to  promote  the  life  of  the  spirit,  he  was  never  indif- 
ferent in  the  exact  discharge  of  his  own  financial  obliga- 
tions :  nor  was  he  indifferent  to  the  needs  of  others.  One 
incident  singly  marks  him  as  belonging  to  the  School  of 
Christ :  "Once  when  har\ests  were  light  and  provisions 
scarce  and  high,  his  (^wn  wheat  fields  yielded  abundantly. 
Foreseeing  the  scarcity  and  consecpient  rise  in  prices,  specu- 
lators sought  early  to  buy  his  wheat.  He  declined  to  sell. 
Thev  offered  him  large  prices,  and  renewed  their  visits 
repeatedlv.  increasing  the  price  eacli  time.  Still  he  reftised 
to  sell,  even  for  the  unprecedented  sum  of  three  dollars  a 
bushel.  But  b\'  and  by.  when  his  poorer  neighbors,  whose 
crop;  were  light,  began  to  need,  he  ir\ited  them  to  come 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  15 

and  get  as   miicli   wheat   as   they   required    f(;r   use.   at   tlic 
usual  price  of  one  dollar  a  bushel." 

He  entered  into  the  life  of  his  community  and  of  his 
times,  anticipating  by  nearly  a  century  the  work  of  Friends' 
Philanthropic  Committees  of  the  present  dav.  It  is  related 
that  he  was  much  opposed  to  an  attempt  to  establish  a 
liquor-selling  ta\'ern  in  the  Jericho  neighborhood — that 
when  he  saw  strangers  approacliing  he  would  invite  them 
to  accept  his  o\vn  hospitality,  thus  making  unnecessary  the 
tavern-keeping  business  in  the  sparsely  settled  country 
town. 

We  would  expect  that,  with  his  sense  of  justice  antl 
his  appreciation  of  values,  Elias  Hicks  would  place  men  and 
women  side  by  side,  not  onl)-  in  the  home,  but  also  in  the 
larger  household  of  faith,  and  in  the  atiairs  of  the  world. 
It  is  remembered  that  his  face  was  set  in  this  direction — 
that,  strict  Societ}'-disciplinarian  as  he  was.  he  advocated  a 
change  in  the  Discipline  to  allow  women  a  consulting  voice 
in  making  and  amending  the  Discipline. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  he  lived  through  the 
Revolutionary  period  of  1776,  and  through  the  War  of 
1812.  So  true  was  he  to  his  convictions  against  war  that 
he  would  not  allow  himself  to  benefit  by  the  advanced 
prices  in  foodstuffs;  and  we  are  told  that  the  records  of 
his  monthly  meeting  show  that  he  sacrificed  much  of  his 
property  by  adherence  to  his  peace  principles. 

Neither  can  we  forget  the  testing  that  came  to  him  in 
the  institution  of  slavery.  For,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  times,  his  own  father  was  the  owner  of  slaves.  His 
open  mind  responded  to  the  labors  of  a  committee  of  the 
New  York  Yearly  Meeting;  and  upon  the  freeing  of  his 
father's  slaves,  he  ever  after  considered  their  w'elfare, 
making  such  restitution  as  he  could  for  past  injustice. 


i6  IJF'F.  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

To  his  daughter.  Martha  Hicks,  he  wrote:  "My  dear 
love  to  thee,  to  thy  dear  mother,  who  next  to  the  I)i\ine 
Blesser  has  heen  the  joy  of  my  youth,  and  who,  I  trust  and 
hope,  will  he  the  com  fori  of  my  declining  years.  O  dear 
chikl.  cherish  and  hel])  her,  for  she  hath  done  abundance 
for  thee." 

These  fruits  of  the  religious  faith  of  Elias  Hicks  are 
offered  as  the  test  given  us  by  the  Great  Teacher  himself, 
by  whicli  to  kimw  the  life  of  a  man.  They  mark  a  life 
rooted  in  the  life  of  God.  Imperishable  as  the  root  whence 
they  g"rew.  may  they  feed  the  souls  of  men  from  generation 
to  generation,  satisfying  the  hungry,  strengthening  the 
weak,  and  making  all  glad  in  the  joy  of  each!  1dius  it  is 
permitted  to  be  "still  praising  Him." 

Elizabeth  Powell  Bond. 


CHAPTER    I. 
Ancestry  and  Boyhood. 

'J'liK  Hicks  family  is  English  in  its  origin,  authentic 
liistory  tracing  it  clearly  back  to  the  fourteenth  century. 
By  a  sort  of  genealogical  paradox,  a  far-away  ancestor  of 
the  apostle  of  peace  in  the  eighteenth  century  was  a  man 
of  war.  for  we  are  told  that  Sir  Ellis  Hicks  was  knighted 
on  the  battlefield  of  Poitiers  in  1356.  nearl\-  four  hundred 
years  before  the  birth  of  his  distinguished  descendant  on 
Eong  Island,  in  America. 

l-'roni  the  best  available  data,  it  is  believed  that  the 
progenitor  of  the  Hicks  family  on  Long  Island  arrived  in 
America  in  1638,  and  came  over  from  the  New  England 
mainland  about  1645,  settling  in  the  town  of  Hempstead. 
A  relati\e.  Robert  bv  name,  came  over  with  tlie  body  of 
Pilgrims  arriving  in  Massachusetts  in   i6ji. 

John  Hicks,  the  pioneer,  was  undoubtedly  a  man  of 
alTairs,  wiili  that  strong  character  which  (|ualifies  men  for 
leadershi]!.  In  the  concerns  of  the  new  community  he  was 
often  drafted  for  important  public  .service.  In  Seventh 
month.  1647,  it  became  necessaiy  to  reach  a  final  .settlement 
with  the  Indians  for  land  purchased  from  them  by  the 
colonists  tlie  \ear  before.  The  adjustment  of  this  trans- 
action was  committed  to  John  Hicks  by  liis  neighbors. 
When,  in  i(y(\^.  the  luiglish  towns  on  the  island  and  the 
New  ^^)rk  mainland  created  a  council  whose  aim  it  was  to 
secure  aid  from  the  (General  Court  at  Hartford  against  the 
Dutch.  John  Hicks  was  made  a  delegate  from  Long  Island. 
In  1665  Governor  Nicoll,  of  New  York,  called  a  convention 

17 


iS  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

to  be  composed  of  two  delegates  from  each  town  in  West- 
chester County  and  on  Long  Island,  "to  make  additions 
and  alterations  to  existing  laws."  John  Hicks  was  chosen 
delegate  from  the  town  of  Hempstead. 

Thomas,  the  great  grandfather  of  Elias,  was  in  169 1 
appointed  the  first  judge  of  Queens  County,  by  Governor 
Andross,  which  office  he  held  for  a  numljer  of  years,  with 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 

Tiie  town  oi  Heiujistead  is  on  the  north  side  of  Long 
Island,  and  borders  on  the  Sound.  There  Elias  Hicks,  the 
fifth  in  line  of  descent  from  the  jDioneer  John,  was  born 
on  the  19th  of  Third  month,  1748.  He  w'as  the  fourth 
child  of  John  and  Martha  Smith  Hicks.  Of  the  ancestry 
of  the  mother  of  Elias  little  is  known.  There  is  no  evi- 
dence that  the  ancestors  of  Elias  on  either  side  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Friends,  still  they  seem  to  have  had 
much  in  common  with  Friends,  and.  at  any  rate,  were  will- 
ing to  assist  the  peculiar  people  when  the  heavy  hand  of 
persecution  fell  upon  them.  In  this  connection  we  may 
quote  the  words  of  Elias  himself.  He  says:  "My  father 
was  a  grandson  of  Thomas  Hicks,  of  whom  our  worthy 
friend  Samuel  Bownas  '  makes  honorable  mention  in  his 
Journal,    and    by    whom    he    was    much    comforted    and 


"  Samuel  Bownas  was  a  minister  among  Friends,  and  was  born 
in  Westmoreland,  England,  about  1667.  He  secured  a  minute  to  make 
a  religious  visit  to  America  the  latter  part  of  1701.  Ninth  month  30, 
1702,  he  was  bound  over  to  the  Queens  Coun'y  Grand  Jury,  the  charge 
against  him  being  that  in  a  sermon  he  had  spoken  disparagingly  of  the 
Church  of  England.  The  jury  really  failed  to  indict  him,  which  greatly 
exasperated  the  presiding  judge,  who  threatened  to  deport  him  to 
London  chained  to  the  man-of-war's  deck.  It  was  at  this  point  that 
Thomas  Hicks,  whom  Bownas  erroneously  conchuied  was  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Province,  appeared  to  comfort  and  assure  him  that  he 
could  not  thus  be  deported  to  England.  Bownas  continued  in  jail  for 
about  a  year,  during  which  time  he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade.  He 
was   finally  liberated  by  proclamatioa.. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELLVS  HICKS  19 

Strengthened  when  imprisoned  through  the  envy  of  George 
Keith, ^  at  Jamaica,  on  Long  Island."  * 

We  are  told  in  the  Journal,  "Neither  of  my  parents 
were  members  in  strict  fellowship  with  any  religious  society, 
until  some  little  time  before  my  birth."  ^  It  is  certain  that 
the  father  of  Elias  was  a  member  among  Friends  at  the  time 
of  his  birth,  and  his  mother  must  also  have  enjoyed  such 
membership.  Elias  must  have  been  a  birthright  member, 
as  he  nowhere  mentions  having  been  received  into  the 
Society  by  convincement.  It  is  evident  that  his  older 
brothers  and  sisters  were  not  connected  with  Friends. 

When  Elias  was  eight  years  of  age  his  fatlier  removed 
from  Hempstead  t(^  the  south  shore  of  Long  Island,  the 
new  home  being  near  the  seashore.  Both  before  and  after 
that  time  he  bewails  the  fact  that  his  associates  were  not 
Friends,  and  what  he  confessed  was  worse— they  were 
persons  with  no  religious  inclinations  or  connections  what- 
ever. 

The  new  home  al'forded  added  opportunities  for 
pleasure.  Game  was  plentiful  in  the  wild  fowl  that  mated 
in  the  marshes  and  meadows,  while  the  bays  and  inlets 
abounded  in  fish.  Hunting  and  fishing,  therefore,  became 
his  principal  di\ersibn.  While  he  severely  condemned  this 
form  of  amusement  in  later  life,  he  brought  to  the  whole 
matter  a  rational   philoso[)hy.      He  considered  that  at  the 


''  George  Keith,  born  near  Aberdeen.  1639.  became  connected  with 
the  Society  of  Friends  about  1662.  He  came  to  America  in  1684, 
but  finally  separated  from  Friends,  and  endeavored  to  organize  a  new 
sect  to  be  called  Christian,  or  Baptist  Quakers.  This  effort  failed,  and 
about  1700  he  entered  the  Church  of  England.  After  this  he  violently 
criticised  Friends,  and  repeatedly  sought  controversy  with  them.  He 
had  quite  an  experience  of  this  sort  with  Samuel  Bownas.  and  was 
considered  the  real  instigator  of  the  complaint  on  which  Bownas  was 
lodged  in  jail.  Keith  looms  up  large  in  all  that  body  of  history  and 
biography  unfriendly   to   the   Society  of   Friends. 

'Journal  of   Elias   Hicks,  p.   7. 

'Journal   of   Elias   Hicks,   p.   7. 


20  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS 

time  hunting-  and  fishing  were  profitable  to  him.  because  in 
his  exposed  concHtion  "tliey  liad  a  tendency  to  keep  me 
more  at  and  about  home,  and  often  prevented  my  joining" 
with  loose  company,  which  1  had  frefjuent  opportunities  of 
doing  without  my  father's  knowledge." 

Three  years  after  mo\'ing  to  the  new  home,  when  Elias 
was  ele\-en  years  of  age.  his  mother  was  removed  by  death. 
The  father,  thus  left  with  six  children,  two  ycjunger  than 
Elias.  finally  found  it  necessary  to  divide  the  family.  Two 
years  after  the  death  of  his  motiier  he  went  to  reside  with 
one  of  his  elder  brothers  who  was  married,  and  lived  some 
distance  from  his  father's.  It  is  probable  that  this  brother's 
house  was  his  home  most  of  the  time  until  he  was  seventeen. 
Much  regret  is  expressed  by  him  that  he  was  thus  removed 
from  parental  restraint. 

The  Journal  makes  possibly  unnecessarily  sad  confession 
of  what  he  considered  waywardness  during  this  ])eriod. 
He  says  that  lie  wandered  far  from  "the  salutary  path  of 
true  religion,  learning  to  sing  vain  songs,  and  to  take  delight 
in  running  horses."  "  Just  what  the  songs  were,  and  the 
exact  character  of  the  horse  racing  must  be  mainly  a  matter 
of  conjecture.  Manifestly  "running  horses"  did  not  mean 
at  all  the  type  of  racetrack  gambling  with  which  twentieth- 
century  Long-  Lsland  is  familiar. 

In  the  midst  of  self-accusation,  he  declares  that  he  did 
not  "give  way  to  anything  which  was  commonly  accounted 
disreputable,  having  always  a  regard  to  strict  honesty,  and 
to  such  a  line  of  conduct  as  comported  with  politeness  and 
good  breeding-."  ^  One  can  scarcely  think  of  Elias  Hicks 
as  a  juvenile  Chesterfield.  From  the  most  unfavorable 
things  he  savs  about  himself,  the  conclusion  is  easily  reached 
that  he  was  really  a  serious-minded  youth,  and  what  has 

■Journal  of   Klias   Hicks,  p.  8. 
'  Journal,  p.  8. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS  21 

always  been  considered  a  "_<;(i()(l  boy."  Tt  must  be  reniem- 
l)ered,  bowever,  tliat  be  set  for  bimself  a  bigb  standard, 
wbicb  was  often  viob'ited,  as  he  became  what  he  called 
"hardened  in  vanity."  Speaking  of  bis  }'Outbful  sports,  and 
possible  waywardness,  his  niatiirer  judgment  confessed,  that 
but  "for  the  providential  care  of  my  Heavenly  Feather,  my 
life  Would  have  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  my  folly  and  indis- 
cretion." '* 

There  is  practically  no  reference  to  the  matter  of 
schools  or  schooling  in  the  Journal.  There  is  every  reason 
tor  the  belief  that  he  was  self-educated.  He  may  have 
liad  a  brief  experience  at  schools  of  a  rather  primary 
character.  At  all  events  he  must  have  had  a  considerable 
acquaintance  with  mathematics,  and  evidently  he  at  an  early 
age  contracted  the  reading  habit.  Books  were  few,  and  of 
periodical  literature  there  was  none.  Friendly  literature 
itself  was  confined  to  Sewell's^  History,  probaljly  Ellwood's 
edition  of  George  Fox's  Journal,  while  he  may  have  had 
access  to  some  of  the  contro\'ersial  pamphlets  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  period.  The  Journals  of  various  "ancient" 
Friends  were  to  be  had,  but  how  rich  the  mine  of  this  litera- 
ture which  he  ex])lored  we  shall  never  know.  Evidently 
from  his  youth  he  was  a  careful  and  intelligent  reader  of 
the  Bible,  and  regarding  its  passages,  its  ethics  and  its  the- 
olog}^  he  became  his  owm  interpreter. 

'Journal  of   Elias   Hicks,  p.  g. 


CHAPTER    II. 

His  Young  Manhood. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  Elias  became  an  apprentice, 
and  set  abont  learning-  the  carpenter's  trade.  His  mechan- 
ical experience  dnring  this  period  receives  practically  no 
attention  in  the  Jom^nal.  We  know,  however,  that  in  those 
days  none  of  the  trades  were  divided  into  sectional  parts  as 
now.  In  short,  he  learned  a  whole  trade,  and  not  part  of 
one.  It  was  the  day  of  hand-made  doors,  and  not  a  few 
carpenters  took  the  timber  standing  in  the  forest,  and  snper- 
intended  or  personally  carried  on  all  of  the  processes  of 
transforming  it  into  Inmber  and  from  it  prodncing  the 
finished  product.  The  carpenter  of  a  century  and  a  half  ago 
had  to  be  able  to  wield  the  broad-ax,  and  literally  know 
how  to  "hew  to  the  line." 

It  is  not  known  exactl}'  how  long  this  apprenticeshi]) 
lasted,  but  probably  about  four  years.  As  a  matter  of 
course,  there  was  much  moving  from  neighborhood  to 
neighborhood,  as  the  building  necessities  demanded  tlic 
presence  of  the  carpenters.  The  life  was  more  or  less 
irregular,  and  Elias  says  that  he  received  neither  serious 
advice  nor  restraint  at  the  hands  of  his  "master."  He  was 
brought  in  contact  with  frivolously  minded  young  peo})le. 
and  was  undul}'  carried  away  with  the  love  of  amusement. 
During  this  period  he  learned  to  dance,  and  enjoyed  the 
experience.  Ikit  he  considered  dancing  a  most  mis- 
chie^■ous  pastime,  and  e\il  to  a  marked  degree.  For  this 
indulgence  he  repeated!)-  upbraided  himself  in  the  Journal. 
In  his  opinion,  dancing  was  "an  unnatural  and  unchristian 

22 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS  23 

practice,"  iic\cr  receiving'  the  ap'proval  "of  the  <h'\iiie  h'.s;ht 
HI  the  secret  of  the  heart." 

He  passed  throuj^h  various  experiences  in  tlie  endeavor 
to  break  awa_y  from  the  dancing  hal)it,  with  many  back- 
shchngs,  overthrowing  what  he  considered  his  good  resolu- 
tions. But  finally  he  separated  from  all  those  companions 
of  his  youth  who  beset  him  with  temptation.  He  says:  "I 
W'as  deeply  tried,  but  the  Lord  was  graciously  near;  and  as 
my  cry  was  secretly  to  him  for  strength,  he  enabled  me  to 
covenant  with  him,  that  if  he  would  be  pleased  in  mercy  to 
empower  me,  T  would  forever  cease  from  this  vain  and 
sinful  amusement."  ^ 

His  tirst  intimation  touching  the  eternally  l(5St  condi- 
tion of  the  W'icked  is  in  connection  with  his  experience  at 
this  time.  Wt  cannot  do  better  than  to  quote  his  own 
words : 

"In  looking  back  to  this  season  of  deep  probation,  my 
soul  has  been  deeply  humbled  ;  for  I  had  cause  to  believe 
that  if  I  had  withstood  at  this  time  the  merciful  inter- 
position of  divine  love,  and  had  rebelled  against  this  clear 
manifestation  of  the  Lord's  will,  he  would  have  withdrawn 
his  light  from  me,  and  my  portion  w^ould  have  been  among 
the  wicked,  cast  out  forever  from  the  favorable  presence 
of  my  judge.  I  should  also  forever  have  been  obliged  to 
acknoAvledge  his  mercy  and  justice,  and  acquit  the  Lord, 
my  redeemer,  who  had  done  so  much  for  me  ;  for  with  long- 
sufifering  and  much  abused  mercy  he  had  waited  patiently 
for  my  return,  and  would  have  gathered  me  before  that 
time,  as  I  well  knew,  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under 
her  wings,  but  I  would  not."  - 

His  second  diversion,  and  probably  practiced  after  he 
had  given  up  dancing,  was  hunting.  While  not  considered 
in  itself  reprehensible,  wlien  the  sport  led  to  want(^nness, 


'Journal  of   Elias  Hicks,  p.   10. 
^Journal,  p.  11. 


24  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS 

aiid  the  taking  of  lite  of  bird  or  beast  simply  for  aiiuise- 
nient.  it  was  vigorously  condemned.  He  says  that  he  was 
finally  "led  to  consider  conduct  like  this  to  be  a  great  breach 
of  trust,  and  an  infring-ement  of  the  divine  prerogatix'e." 
"It  therefore  became  a  settled  princi])le  with  nic  not  t(j  take 
the  life  of  any  creature,  unless  it  was  really  useful  and 
necessary  when  dead,  or  very  noxious  and  hurtful  when 
lixing."  '' 

When  the  settled  con\iction  came  to  him  touching  the 
dance  and  the  sportsman's  practice,  he  was  probably  not  out 
of  his  teens.  This  conviction  resulted  in  victory  over  the 
propensity,  prol:)aI)ly  before  he  reached  his  majority.  The 
whole  experience  was  an  early  illustration  of  the  strength 
of  will  and  purpose  \\hich  vas  characteristic  of  this  remark- 
able man  throughout  his  entire  life. 

Marriage  is  always  a  turning-point  in  a  man's  life.  In 
the  case  of  Elias  Hicks,  it  was  so  in  a.  marked  degree. 
Having  l^ecome  adept  in  his  trade,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two,  he  was  married  to  jemima  Seaman.  This  important 
event  cannot  be  better  stated  than  in  the  simi)le.  (|uaint  lan- 
guage of  the  bridegroom  himself.      He  says: 

"My  affection  being  drawn  toward  her  in  tliat  relation. 
I  communicated  my  views  to  her,  and  received  from  her  a 
corresponding  expression  ;  and  having  the  full  unity  and 
concurrence  of  our  parents  and  friends,  we,  after  some  time, 
accomplished  our  marriage  at  a  solemn  meeting  of  Friends, 
at  \\'estbur3\  on  the  2d  of  First  month,  1771.  On  this 
important  occasion  we  felt  the  clear  and  consoling  evidence 
of  divine  truth,  and  it  remained  with  us  as  a  seal  upon  our 
s]>irits.  strengthening  us  mutually  to  bear,  with  becoming 
fortitude,  the  vicissitudes  and  trials  which  fell  to  our  lot. 
and  of  which  Ave  had  a  large  share  wliile  passing  throuL^h 
tliis  ])robationary  state."  ^ 

'Journal,  p.    i,s. 
*  Journal,  p.   13. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  I'.I.IAS  HICKS  25 

The  rec(-)r(ls  of  \Vcstl)ur\-  Monilil\-  Me'ctiiii;' CDiitaiii  the 
r)lTici;il  exiilence  of  this  marriai^e.  whicli  was  evideiitl}'  con- 
(hicted  stricth'  in  accnnhuice  with  (hsriphne.  h'roni  the 
iiiiiuites  of  that  nieetiiis^'  we  exti'act  llie  fi  )lli  iwin;^' : 

"At  a  niDiithl}  inetini^'  held  in  the  meetiiii;'  lioiise,  ye 
29th  day  of  \'e  Eleventh  month.  177U. 

'"Elias  Uick.s  son  of  John  llieks.  of  Koekaway.  and 
Jemima  Seaman,  danj^hter  of  Jonathan  Seaman,  of  Jerieho. 
presented  themsehes  and  declared  their  intentions  of  mar- 
riage with  each,  and  this  meeting  a|)])oints  John  iMott  and 
Micajah  ]\Iott  to  make  enqnir}-  into  Elias  Hicks,  his  clear- 
ness in  relation  of  marriage  w  ith  other  women,  and  to  make 
report  at  the  next  monthly  meeting. 

"At  a  monthl}-  meeting  in  the  meeting  house  at  W'est- 
hnry  ye  2r)t]i  da}  of  ye  I'welfth  month.  1770,  I'llias  Hicks 
and  Jemima  Seaman  ap])eared  the  second  time,  and  Elias 
Micks  signified  they  continued  their  intentions  of  marriage 
and  desired  an  answer  to  their  former  proposals  of  mar- 
riage, and  the  Eriends  who  were  ap])ointed  to  make  encjuiry 
into  Elias'  clearness  re])orted  that  they  had  made  enquiry, 
and  find  nothing-  l)Ut  that  he  is  clear  of  marriage  engage- 
ments to  other  women,  and  they  ha\ing  consent  of  parents 
and  nothing-  appearing  to  ohestruct  their  prcjceedings  in 
marriage,  this  meeting  leaves  them  to  solemnize  their  mar- 
riag-e  according  to  the  g-ood  order  used  amongst  Friends, 
and  appoints  Robert  Seaman  and  John  Molt  to  attend  their 
said  marriage,  and  to  make  rejjort  to  tlu-  next  monthl\ 
meeting  it  was  consumated. 

"On  ye  30th  day  of  ye  I'irst  month.  1771.  Robert  Sea- 
man reported  that  they  had  attended  the  marriage  of  Elias 
Hicks  and  Jemima  Seaman,  and  was  witli  theni  both  at 
Jericho  and  at  Rockaway.  and  John  Mott  al>o  re])orted  that 
he  accompanied  them  at  Koekaway  and  that  the  marriage 
was  consummated  orderly." 

In  more  wa\->  than  one  tlie  marriage  of  l-'Jias  was  the 
important  exent  of  his  life.  Jemima  Seaman  was  an  only 
child,  and  naturally  her  parents  desired  tliat  she  should  be 
near  them.  .\  few  months  after  tlieir  marriage  I'dias  and 
Jemima  were  urged  to  take  u])  their  residence  at  tlie  Sea- 

4 


26  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

man  lioniesteatl,  Elias  to  manage  the  farm  of  his  father-in- 
law.  The  re.snk  was  that  the  farm  in  Jericho  hecame  the 
liome  of  Eh'as  Hicks  tlie  remainder  of  his  hfe.  Here  he 
hved  and  lahored  for  nearly  sixty  years. 

The  Seamans  were  concerned  Friends,  and  the  farm 
was  near  the  Friends'  meeting  honse  in  Jericho.  From  this 
dates  his  constant  attendance  at  the  meetings  for  worship 
and  discipline  of  the  Society.  Besides  the  family  influence, 
some  of  his  neighhors,  strong  men  and  women,  and  deeply 
attached  to  the  principles  and  testimonies  of  Friends,  made 
for  the  young  people  an  ideal  and  inspiring  environment. 
'Jdie  Friends  at  Jericho  could  not  have  been  unmindful  of 
the  native  ability  and  taking  qualities  of  this  young  man, 
whose  fortunes  were  to  be  linked  with  their  own,  and  whose 
future  labors  were  to  be  so  singularly  devoted  to  their 
religious  Sc^ciety. 

Jemima,  the  wife  of  Elias  Hicks,  was  the  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  Seaman.  The  father  of  Jemima 
w-as  the  tifth  generation  irom  Captain  John  Seaman,  who 
came  to  Long  Island  from  the  Connecticut  mainland  about 
1O60.  For  his  time,  he  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  affairs, 
and  is  recorded  as  one  of  the  patentees  of  the  town  of 
Heiupstead,  on  the  Sound  si<le  of  the  island.  There  was 
a  John  Seaman  who  came  to  Alassachusetts  in  the  Winthrop 
fleet  of  ten  vessels  and  900  immigrants  in  1630.  That  form 
of  biography  which  shades  into  tradition  is  not  agreed  as 
to  whether  Captain  John,  of  Hempstead,  was  the  Puritan 
John  or  his  son. 

Running  the  famil\-  hist(^ry  back  to  England,  we  lind 
Eazarus  Seaman,  known  as  a  Puritan  divine,  a  nati^'e  of 
Leicester.  He  died  in  1667.  He  is  described  as  a  learned 
theologian,  versed  in  the  art  of  controversy,  and  stout  in 
defense  of  his  position  in  religious  matters. 

The  history  of  heraldry,  and  the  story  of  the  efforts 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ETJAS  HICKS  27 

to  capltire  the  Imly  se])nlcher.  tell  lis  that  Joliii  cle  Seaman 
was  one  of  the  first  crusaders.  To  this  line  the  Seaman 
Hneag"e  in  America  is  helieved  to  he  attached. 

At  some  time,  whether  in  his  early  manhood  is  not 
known,  Elias  Hicks  took  up  sin-Ncyin!.;-.  How  steadily  or 
extensively  he  followed  that  business  it  is  impossible  to  say. 
It  is  n(^t  hard.  howe\'er.  to  ilnd  samples  of  his  surveying 
and  plotting  among  the  papers  of  L'lug  Island  convey- 
ancers.'' His  compass,  and  the  home-made  pine  case  in 
which  he  kept  the  instrument  and  the  tripod,  are  in  exi.st- 
ence.'"  The  compass  is  a  simple  alfair,  without  a  telescope, 
of  course.  Tt  folds  into  a  tkat  shape,  the  box  not  being 
more  than  two  inches  thick,  over  all. 

■''Sef  cut  facing  jKige   143. 

"They    are    in    possession   of    llie    great-grandson    of    Elias    Hicks, 
William  Seaman,  of  Glen  Cove,  L.  I. 


CHAPTER    III. 
First  Appearance  in  the  Ministry. 

IT1F.KE  are  many  evidences  in  tlie  journal  tliat  Elias? 
Hicks  a])])reciate(l  tlie  moral  rmd  spiritual  advantages  of  his 
enxironment  after  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Jericho.  He 
confesses,  however,  that  as  he  had  entered  quite  extensively 
into  husiness.  he  was  much  di\erted  from  spiritual  things 
for  a  numher  of  years  after  his  marriage.  During  tliis 
])eriod  he  says : 

"I  was  again  brought,  by  the  operative  influence  of 
divine  grace,  under  deep  concern  of  mind ;  and  was  led, 
through  adorable  mercy,  to  see  that  although  I  had  ceased 
from  many  sins  and  vanities  of  my  youth,  yet  there  were 
many  remaining  that  I  was  still  guilty  of,  which  were  not 
yet  atoned  for.  and  for  which  1  now  felt  the  judgments  of 
God  to  rest  upon  me.  This  caused  me  to  cry  earnestly  to 
the  Most  High  for  pardon  and  redemption,  and  he 
graciously  condescended  to  hear  my  cry,  and  to  open  a  way 
before  me,  wherein  I  must  walk,  in  order  to  experience 
reconciliation  with  him ;  and  as  I  abode  in  watchfulness 
and  deep  humiliation  before  him,  light  broke  forth  out  of 
obscurity,  and  my  darkness  became  as  the  noonday.  I  had 
many  deep  openings  in  the  visions  of  light,  greatly 
strengthening  and  establishing  to  my  exercised  mind.  My 
spirit  was  brought  under  a  close  and  weighty  labour  in 
meetings  for  discipline,  and  my  understanding  much  en- 
larged therein  ;  and  T  felt  a  concern  to  speak  to  some  of  the 
subjects  engaging  the  meeting's  attention,  wdiich  often 
brought  unspeakable  comfort  to  my  mind.  About  this  time 
1  began  to  have  (openings  leading  to  the  ministry,  wdiich 
brought  me  under  close  exercise  and  deep  travail  of  spirit; 
for  although  I  had  for  some  time  spoken  on  subjects  of 
business  in  monthly  and  preparative  meetings,  yet  the 
prospect  of  opening  my  mouth  in  ])ublic  meetings  was  a 
close  trial ;  l)Ut   J    endea\ored  to  keep   my   mind   cpiiet   and 

28 


LIFE  AND  LAB(^RS  OF  ELI  AS  HICKS  29 

resigned  to  tlie  heavenly  call,  if  it  should  be  made  clear  to 
me  to  be  my  duty.  Xevertheless,  as  I  was,  soon  after, 
sitting'  in  a  meeting,  in  much  weightiness  of  spirit,  a  secret, 
though  clear,  intimation  accompanied  mc  to  speak  a  few 
words,  which  were  then  given  to  me  to  utter,  yet  fear  so 
])revailed  that  I  did  not  yield  to  the  intimation.  For  this 
omission  1  felt  close  rebuke,  and  judgment  seemed,  for  some 
time,  to  cover  my  mind;  but  as  1  hinnbled  myself  under 
the  Lord's  mighty  hand,  he  again  lifted  up  the  light  of  his 
countenance  upon  me,  and  enabled  me  to  renew  covenant 
with  him,  that  if  he  would  pass  by  this  ofifense,  I  would, 
in  the  future,  be  faithful,  if  he  should  again  require  such  a 
service  of  me.  And  it  was  not  long  before  I  felt  an  impres- 
sive concern  to  utter  a  few  words,  which  I  yielded  to  in 
great  fear  and  dread  ;  but  oh,  the  joy  and  sweet  consolation 
that  my  soul  experienced,  as  a  reward  for  this  act  of  faith- 
fulness; and  as  1  continued  persevering  in  duty  and  watch- 
fulness, I  witnessed  an  increase  in  divine  knowledge,  and 
an  enlargement  of  niy  gift.  I  was  also  deeply  engaged  for 
the  right  administration  of  discipline  and  order  in  the 
church,  and  that  all  might  be  kept  sweet  and  clean,  con- 
sitent  with  the  nature  and  purity  of  the  holy  profession  we 
w^ere  making;  so  that  all  stumbling-blocks  might  be 
removed  out  of  the  way  of  honest  inquirers,  and  that  truth's 
testimony  might  be  exalted,  and  the  Lord's  name  magnihed, 
'who  is  over  all,  God  blessed  forever.'  "  ^ 

Still  it  appears  that  his  concern  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  discipline  was  more  than  a  slavish  allegiance  to 
the  letter  of  the  law.  More  than  once  he  spoke  a  warn- 
ing w^ord  as  to  the  danger  of  allowing  the  administration 
of  the  written  rule  to  lead  to  mere  formalism.  Once  begun, 
his  development  in  public  service  was  rapid,  and  his  recog- 
nition by  Friends  cordial  and  appreciative  to  a  marked 
degree. 

Just  how  long  Elias  Hicks  spoke  in  the  meeting-s  for 
worship,  before  his  "acknowledgment,"  is  not  knowm.  The 
records  of  Westbury  Monthly  ]\Ieeting.  however,  give  de- 


'  Jounwl,  p.  15. 


.30  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

tailed  information  as  to  this  event.     From  them  we  make 
the  following-  extract: 

'"At  a  monthly  meeting-  held  at  Westbury  ye  ^9th  of 
Fourth  month,  1778,  William  Seaman  and  \\'illiam  \'alen- 
tine  report  that  they  have  made  inquiry  concerning  Elias 
Hicks,  and  tind  nothing  to  hinder  his  being  recommended 
to  the  meeting-  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  whom  this  meeting 
recommends  to  that  meeting  as  a  minister,  and  directs  the 
clerk  to  forward  a  copy  of  this  minute  to  said  meeting." 

The  acknowledg-ment  of  the  ministry  of  EHas  Hicks 
took  place  a  little  n\er  se\en  }ears  after  his  marriage. 
From  vari()us  references  in  the  Journal  the  inference  is 
warranted  that  he  did  not  begin  to  speak  in  the  meeting-  for 
worship  until  a  considerable  time  after  this  e\'ent.  It  is. 
therefore,  probable  that  his  serxice  in  this  line  had  not  been 
g'oing  on,  at  the  most,  more  than  three  or  four  years  when 
his  acknowledgment  took  place.  He  had  only  been  a 
recorded  minister  something  oxer  a  year  when  his  first  con- 
siderable visit  was  undertaken. 

Unfortunately,  the  preserx-ed  personal  correspondence 
of  Elias  Hicks  does  not  cover  this  period  in  his  life,  so 
that  we  are  confined  to  xvhat  he  chose  to  ptit  in  his  Jonrnal. 
as  the  only  self-interpretation  of  this  interesting-  period. 

It  appears  that  the  Nexv  York  Yearly  Meeting-  was 
held  at  the  regularlx-  api)ointed  times  all  through  the  period 
of  the  Revolutionary  War.  Previous  to  1777  the  rneeting 
met  annually  at  Flushing-,  but  in  that  year  the  sessions  were 
removed  to  Westbury.  In  17(^3  it  was  concluded  to  hold 
future  meetings  in  Xe\v  \'ork. 

During-  the  xvar  the  British  controlled  Long  Island, 
and  for  soine  time  the  meeting  house  in  Flushing  was  occu- 
pied as  a  l)arracks  by  the  king's  troops,  which  probably 
accounts  for  moving  the  yearly  meeting  further  out  on  the 
island  to  W\'stbury. 

In   attending  the  yearly   meeting,   and   in   performing 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL^S  HICKS  31 

relig-ious  visits  in  tlie  particular  metninjj-s.  passinc;  the  lines 
of  both  armies  was  a  tretiuent  necessity.  This  privilege 
was  freely  granted  Friends.  Touching  this  matter,  Elias 
makes  this  reference : 

"This  w^as  a  favor  which  the  parties  would  not  grant 
to  their  best  friends,  who  were  of  a  warlike  disposition; 
wdiich  shows  what  great  advantages  would  redound  to 
mankind  were  they  all  of  this  pacific  spirit.  I  passed 
myself  through  the  lines  of  both  armies  six  times  during 
the  war  without  molestation,  both  parties  generally  receiv- 
ing me  with  openness  and  civility;  and  although  I  had  to 
pass  over  a  tract  of  country,  between  the  two  armies,  some- 
times more  than  thirty  miles  in  extent,  and  which  was  much 
frequented  by  robbers,  a  set,  in  general,  of  cruel,  unprin- 
cipled banditti,  issuing  out  from  both  parties,  yet,  excepting 
once,  I  met  with  no  interruption  even  from  them.  But 
although  Friends  in  general  experienced  many  favors  and 
deliverances,  yet  those  scenes  of  war  and  confusion  occa- 
sioned many  trials  and  provings  in  various  ways  to  the 
faithful."- 


■  Journal,  p.  15. 


CH.\P1I-R     IV. 
Early  Labors  in  the  Ministry. 

Prouaim.v  the  tirsl  ()fhci:il  public  service  to  which  Elias 
Hicks  was  ever  assigned  hy  the  Society  related  to  a  matter 
gi'owing-  (Hit  of  the  Revolutinnary  War.  Under  the  new 
nieeting-house  in  New  ^'ork  was  a  large  room,  usually 
rented  for  conimei-cial  ])ur])oses.  During  the  British  occu- 
pation this  room  was  a])])r()priated  as  a  storehouse  for  mili- 
tary goods.  Tile  rent  was  iinally  tendered  by  the  military 
commissioner  to  some  representati\e  I*'riends,  and  In-  them 
accepted.  This  caused  great  concern  to  many  members  of 
the  meeting,  who  felt  that  tlie  Society  of  h^riends  could  not 
consistently  be  the  recii)icnt  of  money  from  such  a  som"ce. 
The  matter  came  before  tlie  ^'early  Meeting  in  1779.  The 
peace  part\'  felt  ihat  the  rent  mone\'  was  blood  money,  and 
should  be  returned,  but  a  \igorons  minority  sustained  the 
recipients  of  this  warlike  revenue.  It  was  iinally  decided  to 
refer  the  matter  to  the  Vearl)-  Meeting  of  Pennsyhania  for 
determinaticMi.  A  commiitce  to  carr)-  tlie  matter  to  Philadel- 
phia was  ap])ointed.  of  which  F.lias  Hicks,  then  a  young 
man  of  thirty-one.  was  a  niembei". 

He  made  this  ser\ice  the  occasion  for  some  religious 
visits,  which  he.  in  c(Mni)any  with  his  friend,  John  Willis, 
proceeded  to  make  en  roulc.  Tlie  two  I'^'iends  left  home 
Ninth  month  ().  I77<;.  but  took  a  roundabout  route  in 
order  to  \isit  the  meetings  in\oi\ed  in  the  concern  of  Elias. 
Instead  of  crossing  o\er  into  Xew  jerse}'  and  going  directly 
to  Philadelphia,  they  went  up  the  Hudson  \alley  to  a  point 
above  New  burgh,  \isiting  meetings  on  both  sides  of  the 
rix'er.      Tlieir  most  northern  point  was  the  meeting  at  Marl- 

32 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S   lllCKS  33 

boroiii^li.  in  LHster  County,  New  N'ork.  They  then  turned 
to  the  southwest,  and  \isited  the  nieetinji;"s  at  ilardwick  '  and 
Kingwood,  arriving  at  Philadelphia,  Ninth  month  25th. 
l^lias  attended  all  the  sittings  of  the  yearly  meeting  until 
l''ourth-day.  when  he  was  taken  ill,  and  was  not  able  to  be 
in  attendance  after  that  time.  He  was  not  present  when 
the  matter  which  called  the  committee  to  Philadelphia  was 
considered.  The  decision,  however,  was  that  the  money 
recei\ed  by  the  New  York  meeting  for  rent  paid  by  the 
British  army  should  be  returned.  This  was  done  by  direc- 
tion of  New  York  Yearly  Meeting  in  1780.  It  may  be 
interesting  to  note  that  in  1779  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
Pennsylvania  began  with  the  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders,  Sexenth-day,  the  25th  of  Ninth  month,  and  con- 
tinued until  Second-day,  the  4th  of  Tenth  month,  having 
practically  been  in  session  a  week  and  two  days.' 

b^)llowing  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  Philadel]>hia,  the 
meeting  at  Byberry  was  visited,  as  were  those  at  Wrights- 
town,  Plumstead  and  Buckingham,  in  Bucks  County,  Pa. 
(  )m  the  return  trip  he  was  again  at  Hardwick,  after  which 
he  passed  to  the  eastern  shore  of  the  iludson,  and  was  at 
•Nine  Partners.  Oswego  and  Oblong.  Turning  southward, 
the  meetings  at  Peach  Pond,  Amawalk  and  Purchase  were 
visited.       h^-om   the   latter   point   he   journeyed    homeward. 

'Jdiis  first  religious  journey  of  Elias  T licks  lasted  nine 
weeks,  and  in  making  it  he  tra\eled  860  miles.  Forty  years 
later,  many  of  the  places  visited  at  this  time  became  centers 
of  the  troul)lesome  contro\'ersy  which  dixided  the  Society 
in  1827  and  1828. 

Four  years  after  the  concern  and  service  which   took 

'  TIardwick  was  in  Sus.sc.n.  County,  New  Jersey.  Tl  was  the  home 
incetintr  of    Ik-njamin   Lundy.  the  aholitioiiist. 

'  lM-(iin  1755  to  1798,  IMiihidelpliia  Yearly  Meetinji  was  held  in 
Ninth    niontii. 

5 


34  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

I'^lias  Hicks  to  Pliiladelphia  in  1779.  he  undertook  hi^ 
second  recorded  religions  \isit.  It  was  a  comparatively 
short  one.  and  took  him  to  the  Nine  Partners  neighbor- 
hood. He  was  absent  from  home  on  this  trip  eleven  days, 
and  traveled   170  miles. 

In  1784  Elias  had  a  concern  to  visit  neighborhoods  in 
Long  Island  not  Friendly  in  their  character.  He  made  one 
trip,  and  not  feeling  free  of  the  obligations  resting  upon 
In'm,  he  made  a  second  tour.  Duringthe  two  visits  he  rode 
about  200  miles. 

He  seems  to  have  had  a  period  of  quiet  home  service 
for  about  six  years,  or  until  1790.  when  two  somewhat  ex- 
tended concerns  were  followed.  The  first  took  him  to  the 
meetings  in  the  western  part  of  Long  Island,  to  Xew  York 
City  and  Staten  Island.  This  trip  caused  him  to  tra^•el  150 
miles.  The  next  visiting  tour  covered  a  w"ide  extent  of  ter- 
ritorv,  and  took  him  to  eastern  Xew  York  and  Vermont. 
On  this  trip  he  was  gone  from  liome  about  four  weeks,  and 
traveled  591  miles. 

The  year  1791  was  more  than  usually  active.  Besides- 
another  visit  to  those  not  Friends  on  Long  Island,  he  made 
a  general  visit  to  Friends  in  X'ew  York  Yearly  Meeting. 
This  visit  took  him  to  New  Jersey,  Connecticut,  Massa- 
chusetts and  up  the  Hudson  valley  as  far  as  Easton  and 
Saratoo^a.  Idie  Lonsf  Island  visit  consumed  two  weeks' 
time,  and  involved  tra\eling  1 1 5  miles.  On  the  general 
\isit  he  was  absent  from  home  four  months  and  eleven 
days,  and  traveled  1500  miles. 

In  1792  a  committee,  of  which  Elias  was  a  member, 
was  appointed  by  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders  to  visit  subordinate  meetings  of  that  branch  of  the 
Society.  In  company  with  these  Friends  every  meeting 
of  Ministers  and  Elders  was  visited,  and  a  number  of  meet- 
uigs  for  worship  were  attended.     On  this  trip  he  was  at 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS  is 

Claremont,  in  Massachusetts,  and  desired  to  have  an 
appointed  nieetino^.  It  seemed  that  the  person,  not  a 
I'^riend,  who  was  to  arrange  for  this  meeting-  did  not 
ad\ertise  it.  for  fear  it  would  turn  out  a  silent  meeting, 
and  he  would  be  laughed  to  scorn.  The  attendance  was 
very  small,  but  otherwise  satisfactory,  so  that  the  fearful 
person  was  very  penitent,  and  desired  that  another  meet- 
ing might  be  held.  Elias  says:  "But  we  let  him  know  that 
we  were  not  at  our  own  disposal ;  and,  as  no  way  ap])eared 
open  in  our  minds  for  such  an  appointment  at  present,  we 
could  not  comply  with  his  desire."    ■■'■"    •' '   ■■    ' '■ 

An  appointed  meeting  was  also  held  near  Dartmouth 
College,  but  the  students  were  hilarious,  and  the  occasion 
very  much  disturbed.  Still,  the  visitor  hoped  "the  season 
^vas  profitable  to  some  present."  ' 

In  the  following  year,  1793,  he  had  a  concern  to  \-isit 
l-'riends  in  Xew  England,  during  which  he  attendecf  meet- 
ings in  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  Maine 
and  the  Massachusetts  islands.  On  this  tri])  he  traveled  by 
land  or  on  water  2283  miles,  and  was  absent  about  fi\e 
months.  It  may  be  interesting  to  note  that  the  traxeling 
companion  of  Elias  Hicks  on  the  Xew  England  visit  was 
James  Mott,  of  Mamaroneck,  X.  V.,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  James  Mott. '  the  husband  of  Lucretia. 

The  X'ew  England  Yearly  Meeting  was  attended  at 
X'ew])ort.  The  meeting  was  pronounced  a  "dull  time"  by 
the  visitor.  1'his  was  occasioned  in  part,  he  thought,  be- 
cause a  \ery  small  number  took  upon  "them  the  whole  man- 
agement of  the  business,  and  thereby  shutting  up  the  way 
to  others,  and  preventing  the  free  circulation  and  spreading 
of  the  concern,  in  a  proper  manner,  on  the  minds  of  I'^riends; 

".\dani  Mott.  the  father  of  Lucretia's  liusljaiul.  married  Anne, 
daughter  of  James  Mott. 


$(>  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

which    I    huve    very    t)fteii    found    io    be    a    very    liurtful 
tendency." 

It  seems  that  in  those  days  the  Meeting  (jf  Ministers 
and  Elders  exercised  the  functions  of  a  visiting  committee. 
Accordingly,  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders 
in  1/95  ajjpointed  a  committee  to  visit  tlie  (juarterly  and 
preparative  meetings  witlu'n  the  bounds  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing. As  a  member  of  this  committee,  Elias  performed  his 
share  of  this  round  of  service.  On  this  visit  a  large  num- 
ber of  families  were  visited. 

The  visits  were  made  seasons  <jf  counsel  and  adxice, 
especiall}'  in  the  "select  meetings."  In  these,  he  says,  "My 
mind  was  led  to  communicate  some  things  in  a  plain  way, 
with  a  \iew  of  stirring  them  up  to  more  diligence  and  cir- 
cumspection in  their  families,  the  better  ordering  and  dis- 
ciplining of  their  children  and  household,  and  keeping: 
things  *weet  and  clean,  agreeably  to  the  simplicity  of  our 
holy  profession  ;  and  I  had  peace  in  my  labor.''  ^ 

Possibly  his  most  extended  \isit  ui>  to  that  time  was 
made  in  1798.  1"hc  trip  was  really  begun  Twelfth  month' 
12,  1797.  It  included  meetings  in  Xew  Jersey.  Pennsyl- 
vania. Delaware,  Maryland  and  Virginia.  On  this  trip  he 
was  from  home  fi\e  and  one-half  months,  traveled  1600 
miles,  and  attended  143  meetings,  nearly  an  average  of  one 
meeting  a  day. 

It  was  on  this  journey  that  he  seri(3usly  began  his 
public  opposition  to  the  institution  of  slavery.  On  the  I2tl! 
of  Third  month,  at  a  meeting  at  Elk  Ridge,  Md.,  he  says: 

"Truth  rose  into  dominion,  and  some  present  who 
were  slave-holders  were  made  sensible  of  their  condition, 
and  were  much  affected.  I  felt  a  hope  to  arise  that  the 
opportunity  would  prove  profitable  to  some,  and  I  left  them 
with  peace  of  mind.  Since  then  I  have  been  informed  that 
a  woman  present  at  that  session,  who  possessed  a  numl^er 

*  Journal,  p.   57. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS  37 

of  slaves,  was  so  fully  convinced,  as  to  set  them  free,  and 
not  long  afterwards  joined  in  membership  with  Friends; 
which  is  indeed  cause  of  gratitude  and  thankfulness  of 
heart,  to  the  great  and  blessed  Author  of  every  mercy 
vouchsafed  to  the  children  of  men."  ^ 

His  perscjnal  correspc^ndence  on  this  trip  yields  some 
interesting  description  of  experiences,  from  which  we  make 
the  following  extract,  from  a  letter  written  to  his  wife 
from  "Near  Easton,  ^'albot  County,  Maryland,  Second 
month  12,  1798": 

"Mary  Berry,  an  ancient  ministering  Friend,  that  Job 
Scott  makes  mention  of,  was  with  us  at  the  meeting.  On 
Seventh-day  we  attended  a  meeting  with  the  black  people 
at  Easton,  which  we  had  appointed  some  days  before. 
There  was  a  pretty  large  number  attended,  and  the  oppor- 
tunity favoured.  Alary  Berry  observed  she  thought  it  was 
the  most  so,  of  any  that  had  ever  been  with  them.  They 
were  generally  very  solid,  and  many  of  them  very  tender. 
The  white  people  complained  much  of  some  of  them  for 
their  bad  conduct,  but  according  to  my  feeling,  many  of 
them  appeared  much  higher  in  the  kingdom  than  a  great 
many  of  the  whites. 

"Some  days  past  we  were  with  the  people  called 
Xicolites.  They  dress  very  plain,  many  of  them  mostly  in 
white.  The  women  wore  white  bonnets  as  large  as  thine, 
and  in  form  like  thy  old-fashioned  bonnet,  straight  and 
smooth  on  the  top.  In  some  of  their  meetings  three  or  four 
of  the  foremost  seats  would  be  filled  with  those  who  mostly 
had  on  these  white  bonnets.  They  have  no  backs  to  their 
seats,  nor  no  rising  seats  in  their  meeting-houses.  All  sat 
on  a  level.  They  appear  like  a  pretty  honest,  simple 
people.  Profess  our  principles,  and  most  of  them,  by  their 
request,  have  of  late  been  joined  to  Friends,  and  I  think 
many  of  them  are  likely  to  become  worthy  members  of 
Society,  if  the  example  of  the  backsliders  among  us  do  not 
stumble  or  turn  them  out  of  the  right  way.  There  was 
about  100  received  by  Friends  here  at  their  last  monthly 
meeting,  and  are  like  for  the  first  time  to  attend  here  next 
Fifth-day,  which  made  it  the  more  pressing  on  my  mind 
to  tarry  over  that  day." 

'  Journal,   p.    67. 


CHAPTER    V. 
Later  Ministerial   Labors. 

In  the  fall  of  1799  a  concern  to  ^"isit  meeting's  in 
Connecticut  was  followed.  The  trip  also  took  in  most  of 
the  meetings  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson  as  far  north 
as  Dutchess  County.  He  was  absent  six  weeks,  and 
attended  thirt\'  meetings. 

Fourth  month  ii,  1801,  Elias  and  his  traveling  com- 
panion, Edmund  Willis,  started  on  a  visit  to  'T'^riends  in 
some  parts  of  Jersey.  Pennsylvania,  and  some  places 
adjacent  thereto."  A  number  of  meetings  in  New  Jersey 
were  visited  on  the  way.  the  travelers  arriving  in  Philadel- 
])hia  in  time  for  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Alinisters  and  Elders. 
All  of  the  sessions  of  the  yearly  meeting  were  also  attended. 
It  does  not  appear  that  Elias  Hicks  had  attended  this  yearly 
meeting  since  1779.  Practically  all  of  the  meetings  in  New 
Jersey  ancl  Pennsylvania  were  \-isited  (^n  this  trip.  It  lasted 
three  months  and  eig'hteen  days,  during  which  time  the 
^■isitors  traveled  1630  miles. 

The  personal  correspondence  of  Elias  Hicks  yields  (^ne 
i.nteresting  letter  written  on  this  trip.  It  was  written  to  his 
\vife,  and  was  dated  "Exeter,  4th  of  Sexenth  month.  1801." 
We  (juote  as  follows: 

"We  did  not  get  to  Lampeter  so  soon  as  I  expected, 
as  mentioned  in  my  last,  for  when  we  left  Yorktown  last 
F"ourth-da}"  e\ening.  ]j>eing  late  before  we  set  out,  detainetl 
in  part  by  a  shower  of  rain.  It  was  night  by  the  time  we 
got  over  the  river.  We  landed  in  a  little  town  called  Co- 
lumbia, where  dwelt  a  few  friends.  Although  l)eing  anxious 
to  get  forward,  I  had  previous  to  coming  there  intended  to 
pass  them  without  a  meeting,  but  found  when  there  I  could 

38 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL'\S  HICKS  39 

not  safely  do  it.  'J^lierefore  we  appointed  a  meeting  there 
the  next  day,  after  which  we  rode  to  Lampeter,  to  William 
Brinton's,  of  whom,  when  I  went  westward,  I  got  a  fresh 
horse,  and  I  left  mine  in  his  care.  I  have  now  my  own 
again,  but  she  has  a  very  bad  sore  on  her  withers,  some- 
what like  is  called  a  'thistlelon,'  but  is  better  than  she  has 
been.  It  is  now  just  six  weeks  and  four  days  since  we  went 
from  this  place,  which  is  about  48  miles  from  Philadelphia, 
since  which  time  we  have  rode  813  miles  and  attended  35 
meetings.  Much  of  the  way  in  this  tour  has  been  rugged, 
mountainous  and  rocky,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  best 
attendant  companion,  peace  of  mind  flowing  from  a  com- 
pliance with  and  performance  of  manifested  duty,  the  jour- 
ney would  have  been  tedious  and  irksome.  But  we  passed 
pretty  cheerfully  on,  viewing  with  an  attentive  eye  the 
wonderful  works  of  that  boundless  wisdom  and  power  (by 
which  the  worlds  were  framed)  and  which  are  only  circum- 
scribed within  the  limits  of  their  own  innate  excellency. 
Here  we  beheld  all  nature  almost  with  its  varied  and  almost 
endless  diversifications. 

"Tremendous  precipices,  rocks  and  mountains,  creeks 
and  rivers,  intersecting  each  other,  all  clothed  in  their 
natural  productions ;  the  tall  pines  and  sturdy  oaks  tower- 
ing their  exalted  heads  above  the  clouds,  interspersed  with 
])eautiful  lawns  and  glades;  together  with  the  almost  in- 
numerable vegetable  inhabitants,  all  blooming  forth  the 
beauties  of  the  spring;  the  fields  arable,  clothed  in  rich 
pastures  of  varied  kinds,  wafted  over  the  highways  their 
balmy  sweets,  and  the  fallow  grounds  overspread  with  rich 
grain,  mostly  in  golden  wheat,  to  a  profusion  beyond  any- 
thing of  the  kind  my  eyes  ever  before  beheld,  insomuch  that 
the  sensible  traveler,  look  which  way  he  would,  could 
scarcely  help  feeling  his  mind  continually  inflamed  and 
inspired  with  humble  gratitude  and  reverent  thankfulness 
to  the  great  and  bountiful  author  of  all  those  multiplied 
blessings." 

This  letter  constitutes  one  of  the  few  instances  where 
Elias  Hicks  referred  to  experiences  on  the  road,  not  directly 
connected  with  his  ministerial  duty.  The  reference  to 
Columbia,  and  his  original  intention  to  pass  by  W'ithout  a 
meeting,  with  its  statement  he  "could  not  safely  do  it,"  is 
characteristic.    Manifestly,  he  uses  the  word  "safely"  in  a 


40  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

Spiritual  sense.  The  call  to  minister  there  was  too  certain 
to  be  put  aside  for  mere  personal  inclination  and  comfort. 

The  reference  to  his  horse  contains  more  than  a  pass- 
ins^  interest.  Probably  many  other  cases  occurred  during 
his  visits  when  "borrowing'"  a  horse  was  necessary,  while 
his  own  was  recuperating.  It  was  a  slow  way  to  travel, 
from  our  standpoint,  yet  it  had  its  advantages.  New 
acquaintances,  if  not  friendships,  were  made  as  the  travelers 
journeyed  and  were  entertained  on  the  road. 

On  the  20th  of  Ninth  month.  1803,  Elias  Hicks,  with 
I^aniel  Titus  as  a  traveling  companion,  started  on  a  visit 
to  Friends  in  Upper  Canada,  and  those  resident  in  the  part 
of  the  New  York  Yearly  ^Meeting  located  in  the  Hudson 
and  Mohawk  valleys.  When  the  travelers  had  been  from 
home  a  little  less  than  a  month,  Elias  wrote  to  his  wife, 
from  Kingston,  a  letter  of  more  than  ordinary  interest,  be- 
cause of  its  descriptive  quality.  It  describes  some  of  the 
difficulties,  not  to  say  dangers,  of  the  traveling  Friend 
before  the  days  of  railroads.  We  quote  the  bulk  of  the 
letter,  which  was  dated  Tenth  month,  16,  1803: 

"We  arrived  here  the  3d  instant  at  the  house  of  Joseph 
h'erris  about  3  o'clock  at  night,  having  rode  the  preceding 
day  from  Samuel  Brown's  at  Black  River,  where  I  dated 
my  last.  We  traveled  by  land  and  water  in  this  day's 
journey  about  forty-tive  miles.  Very  bad  traveling  over 
logs  and  mudholes,  crossing  two  ferries  on  our  way,  each 
four  or  five  miles  wide,  with  an  island  between  called  Long 
Island.  About  six  miles  across  we  were  in  the  middle 
thereof,  the  darkest  time  in  the  night,  when  we  were  under 
the  necessity  of  getting  off  our  horses  several  times  to  feel 
for  the  horses'  tracks  in  order  to  know  whether  we  were 
in  the  path  or  not,  as  we  were  not  able  to  see  the  path, 
nor  one  another  at  times,  if  more  than  five  or  six  feet  apart. 
Some  of  our  company  began  to  fear  we  should  be  under 
the  necessity  of  lying  in  the  woods  all  night.  However, 
we  were  favored  to  get  well  through,  and  crossed  the  last 
ferry  about  midnight  and  after.  Landed  safely  on  Kingston 
shore    about    2    o'clock,    all    well.      Since    which    we    have 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELI  AS   HICKS  41 

attended  ten  meetings,  three  of  them  preparative  meetings, 
the  rest  mostly  among  other  ])eople.  \Ve  just  now,  this 
evening,  returned  from  the  last  held  at  the  house  of  John 
Everit,  about  four  miles  west  of  Kingston.  We  held  one 
yesterday  in  the  town  of  Kingston  in  tlieir  Ccnirt  House. 
It  was  the  first  Friends'  meeting  ever  held  in  that  place. 
The  principal  inhal)itants  generally  attended,  and  we  have 
thankfully  to  acknowledge  that  the  shepherd  of  Israel  in 
whom  was  our  trust,  made  bare  his  arm  for  our  help,  set- 
ting- home  the  testimony  he  gave  us  to  the  states  of  the 
people,  thereby  manifesting-  that  he  had  not  left  himself 
without  a  witness  in  their  hearts,  as  all  ajjpeared  to  yield 
their  assent  to  the  truths  delivered,  which  has  generally 
been  the  case,  in  e\'er}-  place  where  (Uir  lots  have  been 
cast. 

"We  expect  to-morrow  to  return  on  our  way  to  Adol- 
phustown,  taking  some  meetings  in  our  way  thither,  among 
those  not  of  our  Society,  but  so  as  to  be  there  ready  to 
attend  Friends'  monthly  that  is  held  next  Fifth-day,  after 
which  we  have  some  prospect  of  being  at  liberty  to  return 
on  our  way  back,  into  our  own  State. 

"Having  thus  given  thee  a  short  account  of  our  jour- 
ney, I  may  salute  thee  in  the  fresh  feelings  of  endeared 
affection,  and  strength  of  gospel  love,  in  which  fervent  de- 
sires are  felt  for  thy  preservation,  and  that  of  our  dear 
children,  and  that  you  may  all  so  act  and  so  walk,  as  to  be 
a  comfort  and  strength  to  each  other,  and  feel  an  evidence 
in  yourselves  that  the  Lord  is  your  friend  ;  for  you  are  my 
friend  (said  the  blessed  redeemer)  if  you  do  whatever  I 
command  you." 

For  the  three  following  years  there  is  no  record  of 
special  activity,  but  in  1806  a  somewhat  extended  visit  was 
made  to  Friends  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He  was  absent 
from  home  nearly  two  months,  traveled  over  1000  miles, 
attended  three  quarterly,  seventeen  monthly,  sixteen  pre- 
parative, and  forty  meetings  for  worship. 

The  years  following,  including  t8t2,  were  spent  either 

at  home  or  in  short,  semi-occasional  visits,  mostly  within  the 

bounds  of  his  own  yearly  meeting.      During  this  ]>eriod  a 

visit  to  Canada  Half-'^'early  Meeting  was  made. 

6 


42  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  KLIAS  HICKS 

The  lirst  lialf  of  1H13  he  was  busy  in  his  business  and 
domestic  concerns,  really  preparing-  for  a  relig"ious  journe-y, 
which  he  Ijegan  on  the  8th  of  Fifth  month.  He  passed 
through  Xew  Jersey  on  the  way,  attending-  meetings  in  that 
State,  either  regular  or  by  appointment,  arriving  in  Phila- 
delphia in  about  two  weeks.  Several  meetings  in  the 
vicinity  of  that  city  were  attended,  whence  he  passed  into 
Delaware  and  Maryland.  His  steps  were  retraced  through 
Xew  Jersey,  ^^-hen  he  was  homeward  bound. 

f-'rom  1813  to  1816  we  find  the  gospel  labors  of  Elias 
Hicks  ahnost  entirely  confined  to  his  own  yearly  n-ieeting. 
This  round  of  service  did  not  take  hin-i  farther  from  home 
than  Dutches.'^  County.  During  this  period  we  find  him 
repeatedly  confessing  indisposition  and  bodily  ailment, 
which  may  have  accounted  for  the  fewness  and  moderate- 
ness of  his  religious  visits. 

In  First  month,  J  816,  W'e  find  him  under  a  concern  to 
visit  Friends  in  Xew  England.  He  had  as  his  traveling 
con-ipanion  on  this  journey  his  friend  and  kinsman,  Isaac 
Hicks,  of  Westbury.  During  this  trip  practically  all  of  the 
meetings  in  X'^ew  England  were  visited.  It  kept  him  from 
home  about  three  months,  and  caused  him  to  travel  upward 
of  1000  miles.  He  attended  fifty-nine  particular,  three 
monthly  and  two  quarterly  n-ieetings. 

During  the  balance  of  181O  and  part  oi  the  year  1817, 
service  was  ]jrincipally  confined  to  the  lin-iits  of  W'estbury 
Quarterly  fleeting.  But  it  w'as  in  no  sense,  a  period  of 
idleness.  ]\lany  visits  were  n-iade  to  meetings.  In  Eighth 
month  of  the  latter  year,  in  comi)any  with  his  son-in-law,, 
\'alentine  Hicks,  a  visit  was  made  to  son-ie  of  the  meetings 
attaclied  to  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  Yearly  ATeetings. 
.Man)  meetings  in  Xew  Jersey  and  Penn.sylvania  recei\-ed  a 
^isit  at  this  time.  He  went  as  far  south  as  Loudon 
County,    Va.,   taking   nieetings  cii   route,   both   going   and 


LIFK  AND  LABORS  OF  ELI  AS  HICKS  4.V 

eoniino-.  He  must  have  traveled  not  less  than  looo  miles 
on  this  trip. 

Visits  near  at  liome.  and  one  to  some  ])arts  of  New 
York  Yearly  Meeting-.  occni)ied  all  his  time  during;-  the 
year  1818. 

In  1819  a  i^-eneral  x'isit  to  Friends  in  his  own  yearly 
meeting  engaged  his  attention.  He  went  to  the  Canadian 
border.  This  trip  was  a  season  of  extended  ser\ice  and 
deep  exercise.  On  this  journey  he  traveled  1084  miles,  was 
absent  from  home  fourteen  weeks,  and  attended  seventy- 
three  meetings  for  worship,  three  c[uarterly  meetings  and 
four  monthl}'  meetings. 

The  years  from  1819  to  1823,  inclusive,  were  particu- 
larlv  acti\e.  T^lias  Hicks  was  seventy-one  in  the  former 
year.  1die  real  storm_\-  period  of  his  life  was  approaching 
in  the  shape  of  the  unfortunate  misunderstanding  and  bit- 
terness whicli  divided  the  Society.  It  scarcely  demands 
more  than  passing  mention  here,  as  later  on  we  sliall  gi\e 
deserved  prominence  to  the  "separation"  period. 

He  started  on  the  Ohio  trip  Eighth  month  17.  i8i(). 
taking  northern  and  central  Pennsylvania  on  his  route.  He 
arrived  in  Alt.  Pleasant  in  time  for  Ohio  ^'early  .Meeting, 
which  seems  to  ha\e  been  a  most  satisfactory-  occasion, 
with  no  signs  of  the  storm  that  broke  o^•er  the  same  meet- 
ing a  few  years  later,  f^dias  himself  says  :  'Tt  was  thought, 
I  believe,  bv  b'riends,  to  have  been  the  most  favored  yearly 
meeting  they  had  had  since  its  institution,  and  was  worth)-  ot 
grateful  remembrance."  '  During  this  xisit  many  api)ointed 
meetings  were  held,  besides  regular  meetings  for  worshi]). 
(^n  the  homeward  jotu-ney,  I'^'iends  in  the  Shenandoah 
Yalle\-.  in  Virginia,  and  in  parts  of  Maryland  were  \isited. 


'Juurnal,  p.  2>77- 


44  1-IFF.  AND  LAR(^RS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

On  this  trip  lie  jdunicNed  i  joo  miles,  was  fr(jni  home  three 
months,  and  attended  eighty-seven  meetings. 

In  1820  a  \isit  was  made  to  Farmington  and  Duanes- 
Imrg  Quarterly  Meetings,  and  in  the  summer  of  1822  he 
visited  Friends  in  some  parts  of  Philadelphia  Yearly  ]\'Ieet- 
ing.  On  this  tri])  the  Baltimore  Yearly  Meeting"  was  also 
visited,  as  were  some  of  the  particular  meetings  in  Mary- 
land. He  did  not  reach  Philadelphia  on  the  return  journey 
until  the  early  part  of  I'welfth  month.  While  his  Journal 
is  singularly  silent  al)(»ut  the  matter,  it  must  have  heen  on 
this  visit  that  he  encountered  his  hrst  puhlic  opposition 
as  a  minister.  I'ut.  with  few  exceptions,  the  Journal 
ignores  the  wliole  un])leasantness. 

In  1824  he  again  attended  Baltimore  Yearly  Meeting. 
The  only  comment  on  this  trip  is  the  following :  "I  think  it 
was,  in  its  several  sittings,  one  of  the  most  satisfactory 
yearly  meetings  1  ha\'e  ever  attended,  and  the  business  was 
C(~)nducted  in  mucli  harmou}-  and  brotherly  love.""  " 

On  the  homeward  tri])  he  stopped  in  Philadelphia. 
Here  he  suffered  a  se\ere  illness.  Of  this  detention  at  that 
time  he  says:  "I  lodged  at  the  house  of  my  kind  friend, 
Samuel  R.  Fisher,  who,  with  his  worthy  children,  extended 
to  me  the  most  affectionate  care  and  attention;  and  I  had 
also  the  kind  sympathy  of  a  large  portion  of  Friends  in 
that  city."  *  The  exception  contained  in  this  sentence  is 
the  only  intimation  that  all  was  not  unity  and  harmony 
among  Friends  in  the  "City  of  Brotherly  Love."' 

His  visits  in  1825  were  confined  to  the  meetings  on 
Long  Island  and  iliose  in  central   New  York. 

In  the  latter  ])art  of  the  following  year  he  secured  a 


Journal,  p.  .sy6. 
'  Journal,  p.  306. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  FLIAS  HICKS  45 

iniiuitc  Id  visit  meetings  oi  mipi  isini;-  Concord  and  Southern 
Quarterly  Aleetin^-.s.  within  llic  hoiuids  of  Philadelphia 
Yearly  Meeting.  In  jjassing  through  Philadelphia  he 
attended  (jreen  Street  and  Mnlherr}-  Street  Meetings,  lliis 
was  WMthin  a  few  months  of  tlic  di\-ision  of  1827  in  Phila- 
de]])hia  Yearly  Meeting,  Init  tlie  matter  is  not  mentioned 
in  the  Journai. 


CHAPTER    VI. 
Religious  Journeys  in  1828. 

Ox  TME  JOth  of  I'hird  month,  1828,  EHas  Micks  laid 
before  Jericho  Alonthly  Meeting  a  concern  lie  had  to  make 
"a  relig-ions  visit  in  the  kne  of  the  gospel,  to  k'riends  and 
others  in  some  parts  of  our  own  yearly  meeting,  and  in  the 
compass  of  the  Yearly  Meetings  of  Pliiladeljihia,  Haltimore. 
Ohio,  Indiana,  and  a  few  meetings  in  \'ii-ginia."  A  minute 
eml)od\"ing  this  concern  was  granted  him,  the  same  receiv- 
ing the  indorsement  of  A\'estl)ury  Quarterly  Meeting, 
Fourth  month  24th.  Between  this  i)eriod  and  the  middle 
of  Sixth  month  he  made  a  visit  to  Dutchess  County,  where 
the  experience  with  Ann  Jones  and  her  husband  took  place, 
which  will  be  dealt  with  in  a  separate  chapter.  He  also 
attended  Xew  York  Yearl}'  Aleeting,  when  he  saw  and  was 
a  ]iart  of  the  "separation"  trouble  which  culminated  at  that 
lime,  ddie  Journal,  howe\'er,  makes  no  reference  either  to 
the  Dutchess  County  matter  or  to  the  division  in  the  yearly 
meeting.  These  silences  in  the  Journal  are  hard  to  under- 
stand. Cndoubtedly,  the  troubles  of  the  period  were  not 
pleasant  matters  of  record,  yet  one  wishes  that  a  fuller  and 
more  detailed  statement  regarding  the  whole  matter  migiit 
l)e  had  from  Elias  Hicks  than  is  contained  in  the  meager 
references  in  his  personal  correspondence,  or  his  j>ublished 
Journal. 

On  the  14th  of  Sixth  month  he  started  on  the  western 
and  southern  journey,  with  his  friend,  Jesse  Merritt,  as  his 
traveling  companion.  Elias  was  then  a  few  months  pa.^t 
eighty. 

The  two  Friends  halted  at  points  in  New  Jersey  and 
PennsN  Ivania,  holding  meetings  as  the  way  opened.     Service 

46 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  47 

continued  in  Pennsylvania.  C()nsi(lera1)ly  in  the  western  part, 
passing  from  Pittsburg  into  Ohio. 

At  XVestland  Ah^nthl}-  Meeting,  in  PennsyKania,  liis 
first  acknowledgment  of  opposition  is  ol)served.  He  says: 
"A  L^riend  from  abroad  attended  this  meeting,  and  after  I 
sat  down  he  rose  and  made  opposition,  which  greatly  dis- 
turl)ed  the  meeting."  ' 

Wdien  he  arrived  at  Brownsville,  his  fame  had  pre- 
ceded him.  He  makes  this  reference  to  the  experience 
there : 

"Here  we  put  up  again  with  our  kind  friends  Jesse  and 
Edith  Townsend,  wdiere  we  had  the  coiupany  of  many 
Friends,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  not  mem- 
bers of  our  Society,  also  came  in  to  see  us ;  as  the  un- 
founded reports  of  those  who  style  themselves  Orthodox, 
having  been  generally  spread  over  the  country,  it  created 
such  a  great  excitement  in  the  minds  of  the  people  at  large, 
that  multitudes  flocked  to  the  meetings  where  we  were,  to 
hear  for  themselves  ;  and  many  came  to  see  us,  and  acknowl- 
edged their  satisfaction. 

"At  this  place  we  again  fell  in  with  the  Friend  from 
abroad,  who  attended  the  meeting  with  us ;  he  rose  in 
the  earl}'  part  of  the  meeting,  and  continued  his  com- 
munication so  long  that  a  number  left  the  meeting,  by 
which  it  became  very  much  unsettled :  however,  when  he 
sat  down  I  felt  an  opening  to  stand  up ;  and  the  people 
returned  and  crowded  into  the  house,  and  those  that  could 
not  get  in  stood  about  the  i  doors  and  windows,  and  a 
precious  solemnity  soon  spread  over  the  meeting,  which  has 
been  the  case  in  every  meeting,  wdiere  our  opposers  did 
not  make  disturbance  by  their  disorderly  conduct.  The 
meeting  closed  in  a  quiet  and  orderly  manner,  and  I  was 
very  thankful  for  the  favour."  - 

h\)llowing  his  experience  at  Brownsville,  Elias  re- 
turned to  Westland,  attending  the  meeting  of  ministers  and 
elders,  and  tlie  meeting  for  worship.     The  person  before 

'  ThoiTias   Shillitoe. 
•Journal,    p.    404. 


48  LIFE  AND   I.AIJORS  OF  FIJAS   HICKS 

mentioned,  who  may  be  called  tiie  "disturbing  Friend,"  was 
again  in  evidence,  this  time  reinforced  by  a  "companion." 
At  the  instig'ation  of  Friends,  the  ciders  and  overseers  had 
"an  opportunity"  with  the  disturbers,  but  with  small  suc- 
cess. The  same  trouble  was  repeated  on  P'irst-day.  On 
this  occasion  the  opposition  was  vigorous  and  virulent.  In 
the  midst  of  the  second  opportunity  of  the  opposing  Friend 
the  audience  melted  away,  leaving  him  literally  without 
hearers. 

From  Westland  the  journey  was  continued  to  Pitts- 
burg", where  an  appointed  meeting  was  held.  Salem,  Ohio, 
was  the  next  point  visited,  where  the  quarterly  meeting  was 
attended.  On  First-day  a  large  company,  estimated  at 
two  thousand,  gathered.  The  occasion  was  in  every  way 
satisfactory.  Visits  to  dillerent  meetings  continued.  There 
was  manifest  opposition  at  New  Garden,  Springfield, 
Goshen  and  Marlborough.  At  Smithtield  the  venerable 
preacher  was  quite  indisposed.  llie  meeting-house  was 
closed  against  him,  by  "those  called  Orthodox,"  as  Elias 
defined  them. 

One  of  the  objective  points  on  this  trip  was  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant. Ohio,  where  the  yearly  meeting  of  1828  was  held. 
He  arrived  in  time  to  attend  the  mid-week  meeting  at  that 
place,  a  week  preceding  the  yearly  meeting.  A  large 
attendance  was  reported,  many  being  present  who  were  not 
members  of  the  Society.  The  signs  of  trouble  had  preceded 
the  distinguished  visitor,  the  "world's  people"  having  a 
j)henomenal  curiosity  regartling  a  possible  war  among  the 
})eaceable  Quakers.  There  was  pronounced  antagonism 
manifested  in  this  mid-week  meeting,  described  as  "a  long, 
tedious  communication  from  a  minister  among  those  called 
Orthodox,  who,  after  I  sat  down,  publicly  opposed  and 
endeavored  to  lay  waste  what  1  had  said."  ' 

'Journal,  p.   411. 


I.IFE  AND  LABORS  OF  KLIAS  HICKS  49 

Duriiij^"  the  following  days  meeting-s  were  attended  at 
Short  Creek,  Harrisville.  West  Grove,  Concord,  St.  Clairs- 
\ille,  Phiinfield,  W'rightstown  and  StiUwater.  There  was  no 
recorded  disturbance  until  he  returned  tn  Mt.  f^leasant  the 
6th  of  Xinth  month,  the  date  of  the  gathering  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders.  When  the  meet- 
ing-house was  reached  the  gate  to  the  yard  was  guarded, 
"by  a  number  of  men  of  the  oi>posing  i)arty,"  who  refused 
entrance  to  those  who  were  in  sympathy  with  J^'lias  Hicks. 
1'hey  proceeded  to  hold  their  meeting  in  the  o])en  air.  Sulv 
sequent  meetings  were  held  in  a  school-house  and  in  a 
])rivate  house,  the  home  of  Israel  French. 

First-day,  Ninth  month  7th,  Mt.  Pleasant  Meeting  was 
attended  in  the  forenoon,  and  Short  Creek  Meeting  in  the 
afternoon.  The  meeting  at  Mt.  Pleasant  was  wdiat  might 
be  called  stormy.  Elisha  Bates  and  Ann  Braithwaite  spoke 
in  opposition,  after  Elias  Hicks  had  spoken.  In  a  letter 
dated  Xinth  month  loth,  written  to  his  son-in-law,  Valen- 
tine Hicks,  Elias  says  that  these  Friends  "detained  the 
meeting  two  hours  or  more,  opposing  and  railing  against 
what  I  had  said,  until  the  ])eople  were  wearied  and  much 
disgusted."  Xo  trouble  was  exi>erience(l  at  Shori  Creek, 
although  experiences  similar  to  those  of  the  luorning 
occurred  at  Mt.  Pleasant  in  the  afternoon.  Amos  Peaslee, 
of  Woodbury,  X^.  J.,  was  the  center  of  op[)osition  at  that 
time.  He  was  opposed  while  on  his  feet  addressing  the 
multitude. 

In  connection  with  this  yearly  meeting  a  nuiul)er  of 
Friends  were  arreste<l  on  charges  of  trespass  and  inducing 
a  riot,  and  taken  to  court.  All  were  members  of  Ohio 
Yearly  Meeting,  except  Halliday  Jackson,*  of  Darby.  Pa. 


*Halliday  Jackson  was  father  of  John  Jackson,  the  well-known 
educator,  principal  of  Sharon  Hill  School.  Halliday  was  with  the 
Seneca  Indians  in  New  York  State  for  two  years,  as  a  teacher  under 
the   care   of    Philadelphia    Ve:irly   Meeting.  7 


50  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

For  some  reason  Elias  escaped  arrest,  although  in  the  letter 
referred  to  he  said :  "I  have  lieen  expecting'  for  several 
days  past  todiave  a  writ  of  trespass  served  against  me  by 
the  sheriff,  for  going  on  their  meeting-house  grounds,  by 
which  I  may  be  taken  twenty  miles  or  more  to  appear  be- 
fore the  judge,  as  a  number  of  Friends  already  have  been, 
although  my  mind  is  quiet  regarding  the  event." 

While  at  Mt.  Pleasant  the  small  monthly  meeting  of 
Ortht^dox  Friends  at  his  home  sent  a  letter  "officially"  com- 
manding Elias  to  cease  his  religious  visits.  In  regard  to 
this  matter,  and  the  general  situation  in  Ohio,  Elias  wrote 
to  Valentine  Hicks:  "The  Orthodox  in  this  yearly  meeting: 
are,  if  possible,  tenfold  more  violent  than  in  any  other  part 
of  the  Society.  Gideon  Seaman,  and  his  associates  in  the 
little  upstart  Monthly  Meeting  of  Westbury  and  Jericho,^ 
have  sent  a  very  peremptory  order  for  me  to  return  imme- 
diately home,  and  not  proceed  any  further  on  my  religious 
visit,  by  which  they  trample  the  authority  of  our  quarterly 
and  monthly  meeting  under  foot." 

Following  the  Ohio  Yearly  Meeting,  Flushing,*'  in  that 
State,  was  visited,  and  the  First-day  meeting  attended, 
Elias  was  met  before  he  reached  the  meeting-house  by 
Orthodox  Friends,  wdio  insisted  that  he  should  not  inter- 
rupt the  meeting.  He  entered  the  house,,  but  before  the 
meeting  was  fairly  settled,  Charles  Osborn,  an  Orthodox 
Friend,  appeared  in  prayer,  and  continued  for  an  hour ;  and 
then  preached  for  another  hour.  Elias  thus  refers  to  this 
occurrence : 

"However,  when  he  sat  dowti.  although  the  meeting 
vras  much  wearied  with  his  long  and  tedious  coimnunica- 

^  The  Monthly  Meeting  of  Westbury  and  Jericho  was  made  ufw 
of  a  small  number  of  Orthodox  Friends,  representing  only  a  small 
minority  of  the  meeting  of  whieh   l''lias    llieks  was  a  member. 

"  Flushing  is  about  18  miles  from  Mt.  Pleasant.  A  Wilburite 
meeting  is   the  only  Friendly  gathering   now   in  the  place. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL^S  HICKS  51 

tions,  I  felt  the  necessity  of  standing-  up  and  addressing 
the  people,  wliich  brought  a  precious  solemnity  over  the 
meeting;  but  as  soon  as  1  sat  down,  he  rose  again  to  con- 
tradict, and  tried  to  lay  waste  my  communication,  by 
asserting  that  I  had  not  the  unity  of  my  friends  at  home ; 
which  being-  untrue,  I  therefore  informed  the  meeting  that 
I  had  certificates  with  me  to  prove  the  incorrectness  of  his 
assertions,  which  1  then  produced,  but  he  and  his  party 
would  not  stay  to  hear  them,  but  in  a  disorderly  manner 
arose  and  left  the  meeting ;  but  the  people  generally  stayed 
and  heard  them  read,  to  their  general  satisfaction.'"  '' 

Meetings  were  subsequently  attended  at  different  points 
in  Ohio,  generally  without  disturbance,  until  Springfield 
was  reached  the  2 2d  of  Xinih  month.  Here  the  Orthodox 
shut  the  ineeting-h(juse  and  guarded  the  doors.  I^lias  held 
his  meeting  under  some  trees  nearl)y.  He  says:  "It  was 
a  precious  season,  wherein  the  Lord's  power  an<l  lo\c  were 
exalted  over  all  op])osition." '' 

Preceding  Indiana  ^>arly  Meeting,  he  was  twice  at 
Wilmington,  ()liii>.  and  attended  monthly  meeting  at  Center, 
the  first  held  since  the  "separation."'  'I'he  attendance  was 
large,  manv  more  than  tlie  house  wonld  accommodate. 
Elias  savs :  "The  Lord,  our  never-failing  hel])er,  manifested 
his  presence,  solemnizing  the  assemlMy  and  opening  the 
minds  of  the  j)eople  to  receive  the  word  preached;  breaking 
dowai  all  ojjposition,  and  humbling  and  contriting  the 
assembly  in  a  very  general  manner."  '' 

Ninth  month  27th,  Indiana  Yearly  Meeting  convened 
at  Wavnesville.  Ohio.  It  sliould  be  noted  that  the  "sep- 
aration" in  most  of  the  meetings  comprising  this  yearly 
meeting  had  been  ;iccom])hshed  in  1827,  so  that  the  gather- 


Journal,  p.  414 
Journal,    p.    41^1. 
'Journal,    p.    415. 


52  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

ino-  in  182S  was  in  substantial  unity  with  the  Friends  in 
sympath}-  w  ith  EHas  Hicks.  A  letter  written  to  Valentine 
and  Abigail  Hicks,  dated  Waynesville,  Tenth  month  3, 
1828,  contains  some  interesting  information  concerning  the 
experience  of  the  venerable  preacher.     He  says : 

"The  Yearly  Aleeting  here  would  have  been  very  large, 
had  there  not  been  a  failure  of  the  information  of  the  con- 
clusion for  holding  it  here,  reaching  divers  of  the  Quarterly 
^Meetings,  by  which  they  were  prevented  from  attending. 
The  meeting  was  very  orderly  conducted,  and  the  business 
managed  in  much  harmony  and  condescension.  The  public 
meetings  have  been  very  large,  favoured  seasons,  and  all  the 
meetings  we  have  attended  in  our  passing  along  have  been 
generally  very  large.  Seldom  any  houses  were  found  large 
enough  to  contain  the  people.  Often  hundreds  were  under 
the  necessity  of  standing  out  doors.  Many  of  the  people 
without  came  a  great  way  to  be  at  our  meeting.  Some  ten, 
some  twenty,  and  some  thirty  miles,  and  I  have  been  in- 
formed since  I  have  been  here  that  the  people  in  a  towm 
120  miles  below  Cincinnati  have  given  it  in  charge  to 
Friends  of  that  place  to  inform  them  when  w^e  came  there, 
as  a  steam  boat  plies  between  the  two  places.  The  excite- 
ment is  so  great  among  the  people  by  the  false  rumors 
circulated  by  the  Orthodox,  that  they  spare  no  pains  to  get 
an  opportunity  to  be  with  us,  and  those  who  have  attended 
from  distant  parts,  informing  the  people  the  satisfaction 
they  have  had  in  being  with  us,  in  which  they  have  found 
that  the  reports  spread  among  them  were  generally  false, 
it  has  increased  the  excitement  in  others  to  see  for  them- 
selves." 

The  vearly  meeting  over,  Elias  attended  meetings  en 
route  to  Richmond.  Ind.,  and  was  at  the  mid-week  meeting 
in  that  place.  Tenth  month  8th.  Several  other  meetings 
were  attended,  the  only  disturbance  reported  being  at 
Orange,  where  the  Orthodox  'iiurt  the  meeting  very  con- 
siderably." On  the  19th  he  was  in  Cincinnati,  and  attended 
the  regular  meeting  in  the  morning,  and  a  large  appointed 
meeting  in  the  court-house  in  the  afternoon.  Both  were 
pronounced  "highly  favored  seasons." 

First-dav.   the   26th,   he   was   at    Fairfield,    where   the 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  53 

Ortliodox  revived  the  slory  that  he  was  traveling;-  without 
a  minute.  While  Ehas  was  speaking,  the  Orthodox  left 
the  meeting  in  a  hcnly.  He  remarks:  "But  Friends  and 
others  kept  their  seals,  and  we  had  a  very  solemn  close,  and 
great  brokenness  and  contrition  were  manifest  among  the 
people;  and  to  do  away  with  the  false  report  spread  by  the 
Orthodox,  I  had  my  certificates  read,  wdiich  gave  full  satis- 
faction to  the  asseml)ly."  '" 

Elias  then  journcxed  to  Wheeling",  his  face  being 
turned  homeward,  lie  held  an  appointed  meeting  in  that 
city.  It  is  suggestixe  that,  notwithstanding  the  theological 
odium  under  wdiich  he  was  supposed  to  rest,  the  meeting 
was  held  in  the  Methodist  church,  which  had  been  kindly 
offered  for  the  purpose.  This  w"Ould  seem  to  indicate  that 
the  Methodists  had  not  yet  taken  any  sides  in  the  quarrel 
which  had  divided  the  Soicety  of  Friends. 

After  visiting  Redstone  Quarterly  Meeting,  in  western 
Pennsylvania,  he  visited  the  meetings  in  the  Shenandoah 
and  Loudon  valleys,  in  Virginia.  He  was  at  /Mexandria 
and  Washington,  and  on  First-day,  Eleventh  month  i6th, 
was  at  Sandy  Spring,  Md.  The  meetings  about  Baltimore 
and  in  Harford  and  Cecil  counties  were  visited.  He 
reached  West  Grove  in  Pennsylvania,  Twelfth  month  ist, 
and  encountered  some  trouble,  as  he  found  that  the  meeting- 
house had  been  closed  against  him.  A  large  crowd  assem- 
bled, better  councils  prevailed,  and  the  house  was  opened. 
The  audience  was  beyond  the  capacity  of  the  house,  and  the 
meeting  in  every  way  satisfactory. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  West  Grove,  Twelfth  month  ist, 
he  sent  a  letter  to  his  son-in-law  and  daughter,  Royal  and 
Martha  Aldrich.  In  this  letter  he  gives  a  brief  account  of 
his  experiences  in  Maryland  and  Lancaster  County.  He 
says:    "The  aforesaid  meetings  were  very  large  and  highly 

"Journal,  p.  419. 


54  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  El.TAS  HICKS 

favored,  i^'enerally  made  up  of  ever}"  descri])tion  of  people, 
liigli  and  low.  rich  and  iM)()r.  Romanists,  and  generally  some 
of  e\er_\'  prt)fession  of  Protestants  known  in  onr  country. 
Generally  all  went  away  fully  satisfied  as  to  those  evil 
reports  that  have  been  spread  over  the  country  concerning 
me,  and  man}-  announced  the  abhorrence  they  had  of  those 
false  and  slanderous  reports." 

It  appears  from  this  letter  that  the  traveling  companion 
of  Elias.  Jesse  Merritt,  was  homesick,  and  hoped  that  some 
other  Friend  would  come  from  Long  Island  to  take  his  place 
for  the  rest  of  the  trip.  In  case  such  a  shift  was  made, 
Elias  requested  that  whoe\-er  came  "might  bring  with  him 
my  best  winter  tight-l)odied  coat,  and  two  thicker  neck- 
cloths, as  those  I  have  are  rather  thin.  I  got  a  new  great- 
coat in  Alexandria,  and  shall  not  need  any  other." 

l''rom  a  letter  written  to  his  wife  from  West  Chester. 
Twelfth  month  "th.  we  learn  that  John  Hicks  had  arrived 
to  take  the  place  of  Jesse  Merritt.  and  he  seized  that  oppor- 
tunit\-  to  send  a  letter  home.  As  the  two  Friends  had  been 
awav  from  home  nearl}-  six  months,  it  is  not  strange  that 
the  companion  on  this  journey  desiretl  to  return.  He  could 
scarcely  have  been  under  the  deep  and  absorbing  religious 
concern  which  was  felt  by  his  elder  brother  in  the  truth. 
The  nature  of  this  obligation  is  rexealed  in  the  letter  last 
noted.       In  this  epistle  to  his  wife.  Elias  says: 

"Abigail's  letter  informs  of  the  infirm  state  of  V.  and 
Caroline,  which  excites  near-feeling  and  sympathy  with 
them,  and  which  would  induce  me  to  return  home  imme- 
diately il  1  was  set  at  liberty  from  my  religious  obligations, 
but  as  that  is  not  the  case,  I  can  only  recommend  them  to 
the  preserving  care  and  compassionate  regard  of  our 
Heavenly  Father,  whose  mercy  is  over  all  his  works  and 
does  not  suffer  a  sparrow  to  fall  without  his  notice.  And 
as  we  become  resigned  to  his  heavenly  disposals,  he  will 
cause  all  things  to  work  together  for  good,  to  his  truly 
devoted  children.  I'herefore.  let  all  trust  in  him,  for  in  the 
Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting  strength." 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  55 

The  meetini^s  in  Delaware,  eastern  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey  were  pretty  g"enerally  attended,  and  with  no 
reported  disturbance.  First-day,  the  21st  of  Twelfth 
month,  Elias  attended  the  meeting  at  Cherry  Street  in  the 
morning  and  Green  Street  in  the  afternoon,  and  on  the  28th 
he  repeated  that  experience.  On  both  occasions  "hundreds 
more  assembled  than  the  houses  could  contain."  ''  In  the 
suburban  meetings  in  Delaware  and  Bucks  Counties,  "the 
houses  were  generally  too  small  to  contain  the  people;  many 
had  to  stand  out-of-doors  for  want  of  room;  neverthel-.ss, 
the  people  behaved  orderly  and  the  Lord  was  felt  to  preside, 
solemnizing  those  crowded  assemblies,  in  all  of  which  my 
mind  was  opened,  and  ability  atTorded.  to  preach  the  gospel 
to  the  people  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with 
power,  and  many  hearts  were  broken  and  contrited  and  went 
aw^ay  rejoicing,  under  thankful  sense  of  the  unmerited 
favor."  ^- 

The  great  crowds  wdiich  flocked  to  hear  Elias  Hicks 
after  the  "separation"  were  probably  called  together  partly 
because  of  curiosity  on  their  part,  and  to  a  considerable 
extent  becavise  of  his  continued  popularity  as  a  minister,  in 
spite  of  the  trouble  which  had  come  to  the  Society.  That 
he  was  appreciative  of  what  we  would  now  call  the  adver- 
tising quality  of  those  who  antagonized  him,  and  became 
his  theological  and  personal  enemies,  is  w'ell  attested.  In 
summing  up  his  conclusions  regarding  the  long  religious 
visit  now'  under  review,  he  said :  "My  opposing  brethren 
had,  by  their  public  opposition  and  erroneous  reports, 
created  such  excitement  in  the  minds  of  the  people  generally 
of  every  profession,  that  it  induced  multitudes  to  assemble 
to  hear  for  themselves,  and  they  generally  went  away  satis- 


"  Journal,  p.  423. 
'"  Journal,   p.  423. 


56  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OK  KLIAS  HICKS 

fied  and  comforted."  '^  Undoubtedly,  the  multitudes  who 
heard  Klias  Hicks  preach  in  1828  went  away  wondering 
what  all  the  trouble  was  about. 

Elias  and  his  traveling-  companion  reached  home  al)Out 
the  middle  of  First  month.  1829.  This  was  one  of  the 
longest  and  most  extended  religious  journevs  ever  made 
by  him,  and  was  completed  within  two  months  of  his 
eighty-first  year.  On  the  journey  he  traveled  nearly  2400 
miles,  and  was  absent  seven  months  and  ten  days. 

Going  carefully  over  the  various  journeys  of  this  well- 
known  minister,  a  conservative  estimate  will  show  that  he 
traveled  in  the  aggregate  not  less  than  forty  thousand  miles 
during  his  long  life  of  public  service.  He  was  probably 
the  best-known  minister  in  the  Society  of  l^>iends  in  his 
time.  His  circle  of  personal  friends  was  large,  and  ex- 
tended over  all  the  yearly  meetings.  It  is  necessary  to 
keep  these  facts  in  mind,  in  order  to  understand  how  the 
major  portion  of  Friends  at  that  time  made  his  cause  their 
own  when  the  rupture  came. 

The  majoritv  of  Friends  at  that  time  were  content  as 
to  preaching,  with  words  that  seemed  to  be  full  of  spirit 
and  life,  and  this  undoubtedly  was  characteristic  of  the 
preaching  of  Elias  Hicks.  To  attempt  to  destroy  the  stand- 
ing in  the  Society  of  a  man  of  such  character  and  ecjuipment 
was  certain  to  break  something  other  than  the  man  attacked. 
This  will  become  more  apparent  as  we  consider  more  closely 
the  relation  of  Elias  Hicks  to  the  controversy  with  which 
his  name  and  {x^rson  were  linked,  and  with  the  trouble  in 
the  Society  of  Friends,  for  which,  either  justly  or  other- 
wise, he  was  made  the  scapegoat. 

"  Journal,  p.  423. 


^^J 

■\  #    ■                '^'^  vS  ST 

^£*1S^' "     -  ^IPs^ 

^ 

Ir  *  ■^•^^?:ikl 

ij^^^j^JTs,  ,">SjX:           -;T   ,    J0 

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\r'\ 

IP^ 

itl^ilt              n^uflril  ' 

1  >. "  :m  , 

||r^ 

SnQl 

THE  MICKS"    MOUSE,  JERICHO. 
(See  page  66. ) 


FRIENDS'     MEETING  H(JUSE,  JERICHO. 
(  See  page  68. 1 


CHAPI^KR  VII. 

Ideas  About  the  Ministry. 

To  CONSTRUCT  from  tlie  published  deliverances,  and 
personal  correspondence  of  Elias  Hicks,  a  statement  of  his 
theory  and  practice  touching"  the  ministry  is  desirable  if  not 
easy.  That  he  considered  ])ublic  religions  exercise  an  ex- 
alted function,  if  of  the  right  sort,  and  emanating  from  the 
Divine  source,  is  abundantly  evidenced  in  all  he  said  and 
wrote.  The  call  to  j)articular  and  general  service,  whether 
in  his  liome  meeting  for  worsln]).  oi-  in  connection  with  his 
extended  religious  journeys,  lie  bcliexed  came  directly  fr()ni 
the  Divine  Spirit. 

One  instance  is  related,  which  i)ossibly  as  clearly  as 
anything,  illustrates  his  feeling  regarding  the  ministry,  and 
the  relatiousliip  of  the  Iniinite  to  the  minister.  In  the  fall 
of  i/Si,  when  his  service  in  the  ministry  had  been  ac- 
knowledged about  three  years,  he  was  very  ill  with  a  fe\'er, 
which  lasted  for  several  months.  In  the  most  severe  period 
of  this  indisposition  he  tells  us  that  "a  prospect  opened  to 
my  mind  to  pay  a  religious  visit  to  some  parts  of  oiu"  island 
where  no  h'riends  li\ed.  and  among  a  people,  who,  from 
acqtiaintance  I  had  with  them,  were  more  likely  to  mock 
than  receive  me."  He  opposed  the  call,  and  argued  against 
it,  onb'  to  see  the  disease  daily  reducing  his  Ixxlily  and  men- 
tal strength.  He  became  convinced  that  in  yielding  to  this 
call  lay  his  only  hope  of  recovery,  and  had  he  not  done  so 
his  life  would  have  gone  out.  Having  fully  recovered,  the 
intimated  service  was  perf(^rmed  the  following  summer. 

He  seemed  to  treat  his  ministry  as  something  in  a 
measure  apart  from  his  personality.      He  repeatedly  referred 

57  8 


58  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

to  liis  own  ministerial  labors  in  a  way  not  unlike  that  in- 
dulged in  l)y  his  most  ardent  admirers.  Yet  this  was  always 
accompanied  witii  acknowledgment  of  the  Divine  enlighten- 
ing and  assistance.  On  the  22(1  of  Tenth  month,  1779.  he 
lield  an  appointed  meeting  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  a  thousand 
persons  being  present.  Of  this  meeting  he  said :  "The 
Lord,  in  whum  we  trust,  was  graciously  near,  and  furnished 
us  with  ability  to  conduct  the  meeting  to  the  satisfaction 
and  peace  of  oiu^  own  minds ;  and  to  the  edification  of  many 
present,  and  general  satisfaction  to  the  assembly."  ^ 

Speaking  of  a  meeting  at  Alarket  Street.  Philadelphia, 
in  Fourth  month.  iSoi,  he  remarked:  "^ly  spirit  was  set 
at  lil)erty.  and  ability  afforded  to  divide  the  word  among 
them,  according  to  their  varied  conditions,  in  a  large,  search- 
ing and  effectual  testimony ;  whereby  a  holy  solemnity  was 
witnessed  to  spread  over  the  meeting,  to  the  great  rejoicing 
of  the  honest-hearted."  " 

At  a  meeting  at  Goose  Creek,  \*irginia,  the  22d  of 
Third  month,  1797,  he  tells  us:  "After  a  considerable  time 
of  silent  labor,  in  deep  baptism  with  the  suffering  seed,  my 
mouth  was  opened  in  a  clear,  full  testimony,  directed  to 
the  states  of  those  present.  And  many  were  brought  under 
the  influence  of  that  power  which  'cut  Rahab,  and  wounded 
the  dragon.'  "  ^ 

In  the  acknowledgment  of  the  Divine  influence  and 
favor,  Elias  Hicks  had  a  collection  of  phrases  which  he 
repeatedly  used.  "-It  was  the  Lord's  doings,  and  marvelous 
in  our  eyes,"  was  a  common  expression.  He  repeatedly 
said:  "Our  sufficiency  Avas  not  of  ourselves,  but  of  God; 
and  that  the  Lord  was  our  strength  from  day  to  day,  who 

'  J(jurnal,  p.  85. 

"  Journal,    p.    89.  . 

'  Journal,  p.  69, 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL^S  HICKS  59 

is  ox'tT  all  blessed  forever."  One  of  his  favorite  ex- 
pressions was :  "To  the  Lord  be  all  the  praise,  nothing  due 
to  man." 

Trite  and  pointed  Scripture  quotations  were  always  at 
command,  and  they  were  etTectively  employed,  both  in 
speaking  and  writing.  It  will  be  noted  by  the  reader  that 
not  a  few  nf  the  expressions  used  ])y  Elias  Hicks  sound 
like  the  j)h rases  coined  by  George  Vox. 

That  Elias  Hicks  believed  in  the  plcnar}-  inspiration  of 
the  preacher  is  well  attested.  His  testimony  was  constantly 
against  the  "'letter/'  with  little  recognition  that  the  letter 
could  ever  ct)ntain  the  spirit.  Here  is  a  sam])le  exhortation 
to  ministers : 

"And  it  is  a  great  thing  when  ministers  keep  in  re- 
membrance that  necessary  caution  of  the  divine  Master,  not 
to  premediate  what  they  shall  say ;  but  carefully  to  wait 
in  the  nothingness  and  emptiness  of  self,  that  wdiat  they 
speak  may  be  only  what  the  Holy  Spirit  speaketh  in  them  ; 
then  will  they  not  only  speak  the  truth,  but  the  truth,  ac- 
companied  with   power,   and   thereby   profit   the   hearers."  * 

He  admonished  h'riends  in  meeting,  and  especially 
ministers,  to  "g-et  iu'ward.  and  wait  in  their  proper  gifts." 
The  evident  theory  was  that  by  waiting,  and  possibly  wrest- 
ling with  the  manifestation  it  was  possible  to  tell  whether 
it  was  froiti  below  or  above. 

Still,  there  was  not  an  entire  absence  of  the  human 
and  even  the  rational  in  Elias  Hicks'  fheory  of  the  minis- 
try as  it  worked  out  in  practice.  He  had  e\'idently  dis- 
covered the  psychological  side  of  public  speaking  to  the 
extent  of  recognizing  that  even  the  preacher  was  influenced 
by  his  audience. 

When    he    was    in    Philadelphia    in    18 16,    before    the 


*  Journal,  p.   296. 


60  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

troubled  times  liad  arrived,  he  tells  iis  that  "it  proved  a 
hard  trying  season :  one  of  them  [ministers]  was  exercised 
in  public  testimony,  and  although  she  appeared  to  labor  fer- 
vently, yet  but  little  life  was  felt  to  arise  during  the  meeting. 
This  makes  the  work  hard  for  the  poor  exercised  ministers, 
who  feel  the  necessity  publicly  to  advocate  the  cause  of  truth 
and  righte(jusness,  and  yet  obtain  but  little  relief,  by  reason 
of  the  deadness  and  indilTerence  of  those  to  whom  the}-  are 
constrained  to  minister.  I  found  it  my  place  to  sit  silent 
and  suffer  with  the  seed."  ^ 

In  a  pers(jnal  letter.  Avhile  on  one  of  his  visits,  Elias 
Hicks  gave  the  following  impression  of  the  meeting  and  the 
ministry : 

"To-day  was  the  quarterly  meeting  of  discipline.  It 
was  large,  and  I  think  in  the  main  a  favored  instructive 
season,  although  considerably  hurt  by  a  pretty  long,  tedious 
communication,  not  sufficiently  clothed  with  life  to  make 
it  either  comfortable  or  useful.  So  it  is,  the  Society  is  in 
such  a  mixed  and  unstable  state,  and  many  who  presume 
to  be  teachers  in  it,  are  so  far  from  keeping  on  the  original 
foundation,  the  light  and  spirit  of  truth,  and  so  built  up  in 
mere  tradition,  that  I  fear  a  very  great  portion  of  the 
ministry  among  us,  is  doing  more  harm  than  good,  and 
leading  back  to  the  weak  and  beggarly  elements,  to  which 
they  seem  desirous  to  be  again  in  bondage."  '"' 

This  is  not  the  only  case  of  his  measuring  the  general 
effect  of  the  ministry.  In  Seventh  month,  1815,  he  attended 
Westbury  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  of  its  experiences  he 
wrote  as  follows  :       * 

"Was  the  parting  meeting  held  for  public  worsliip.  It 
was  a  large  crowded  meeting,  but  was  somewhat  hurt  in 
the  forepart,  by  the  appearance  of  one  young  in  the  ministry 
standing  too   long,   and   manifesting   too   much   animation: 


'Journal,    p.   271. 
Letter  to  his  wife,  dated  Purchase,  X.  Y.,  Tenth  month  jg,  1823. 


LIFE   AND   LABORS  OF     ELIAS  HICKS  6i 

Yet,  I  beliexed,  he  was  under  the  preparing  hand,  fitting 
for  service  in  the  Church,  if  he  onh^  keeps  low  and  liumble, 
and  does  not  aspire  above  his  gift,  into  the  animation  of  the 
creature.  For  there  is  great  danger,  if  such  are  not  deeply 
watchful,  of  the  transformer  getting  in  and  raising  the  mind 
into  too  much  creaturely  zeal,  and  warmth  of  the  animal 
spirit,  whereby  they  may  be  deceived,  and  attribute  that 
to  the  divine  power,  which  only  arises  from  a  heated  imagi- 
nation, and  the  natural  warmth  of  their  own  spirits ;  and 
so  mar  the  work  of  the  divine  spirit  on  their  minds,  run 
before  their  gift  and  lose  it,  or  have  it  taken  away  from 
them.  They  thereby  fall  into  the  condition  of  some  for- 
merly, as  mentioned  by  the  prophet,  who,  in  their  crea- 
turely zeal,  kindle  a  fire  of  their  own,  and  walk  in  the  light 
thereof;  but  these,  in  the  end,  have  to  lie  down  in  sorrow."  ^ 

Of  the  same  quarterly  meeting,  held  in  Fourth  month 
in  the  following  year,  in  New  York,  Elias  wrote :  "It  was 
for  the  most  part  a  favored  season,  but  W(jukl  have  been 
more  so,  had  not  some  in  the  ministry  quite  exceeded  the 
mark  by  unnecessary  communication.  For  very  great  care 
ought  to  rest  on  the  minds  of  .ministers,  lest  they  become 
l)urthensome,  and  take  away  the  life  from  the  meeting,  and 
l)ring  over  it  a  gloom  of  death  and  darkness,  that  may  be 
sensibly  felt."  ^ 

His  feeling  regarding  his  own  particular  labor  in  the 
ministry  is  almost  pathetically  expressed  as  follows: 

"Meetings  are  generally  large  and  well-attended,  al- 
though in  the  midst  of  harvest.  I  have  continual  cause  for 
deep  humility  and  thankfulness  of  heart  under  a  daily  sense 
of  the  continued  mercy  (^f  the  Shepherd  of  Israel,  who  when 
he  puts  his  servants  forth,  goes  before  them,  and  points  out 
the  way,  wdien  to  them  all  seems  shut  up  in  darkness. 
This  has  been  abundantly  my  lot  from  day  to  day.  insomuch 
that  the  saying  of  the  prophet  has  been  verified  in  my  ex- 
perience, that  none  are  so  blind  as  the  Lord's  servants,  nor 


Journal,   p.   234. 
'Journal,  p.  268. 


62  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

deaf  as  his  messengers.  As  generally  when  I  first  enter 
meetings  I  feel  like  one,  both  dumb  and  deaf,  and  see  noth- 
ing" but  my  own  impotence.  Nevertheless  as  my  whole 
trust  and  confidence  is  in  the  never-failing  arm  of  divine 
sufficiency,  although  I  am  thus  emptied,  I  am  not  cast 
down,  neither  has  a  murmuring  thought  been  permitted  to 
enter,  but  in  faith  and  patience,  have  had  to  inherit  the 
promise,  as  made  to  Israel  formerly  by  the  prophet.  'I  will 
never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee.'  This  my  dear,  I  trust 
will  be  the  happy  lot  of  all  those  who  sincerely  trust  in  the 
Lord,  and  do  not  cast  away  their  confidence,  nor  lean  to 
their  own  understanding.'"  '■' 

Occasionally  in  his  ministry  Elias  Hicks  did  what  in 
our  time  would  be  called  sensational  things.  In  this  matter 
he  shall  be  his  own  witness.  Fourth-day,  the  6th  of 
Twelfth  month,  1815,  at  Pearl  Street  meeting  in  New  York, 
there  was  a  marriag'e  during  the  meeting,  on  which  account 
the  attendance  was  larg-e.  After  remarking  that  his  mind 
was  "exercised  in  an  unusual  manner,"  he  says: 

"For  the  subject  which  first  presented,  after  my  mind 
had  become  silenced,  was  the  remembrance  of  the  manner 
in  which  the  temporal  courts  among  men  are  called  to 
order ;  and  it  became  so  impressive,  as  to  apprehend  it 
right  to  make  use  of  it  as  a  simile,  much  in  the  way  the 
prophet  was  led  to  make  use  of  some  of  the  Rechabites.  ti) 
convict  Israel  of  their  disobedience  and  want  of  attention  to 
their  law^  and  law-giver.  I  accordingly  was  led  to  cry 
audibly  three  times.  'O  yes!  O  yes!  O  yes!  silence  all  per- 
sons, under  the  pain  and  penalt}-  of  the  displeasure  of  the 
court.'  This  unusual  address  had  a  powerful  tendency  to 
arrest  the  attention  of  all  present,  and  from  which  I  took 
occasion,  as  truth  opened  the  way,  to  reason  with  the  as- 
sembly, that  if  such  a  confused  mass  of  people  as  are 
generally  collected  together  on  such  occasions,  and  from 
very  different  motives,  and  many  from  mere  curiosity  to 
hear  and  see  the  transactions  of  the  court,  should  all  in 
an  instant  so  honor  and  respect  the  court,  as  immediately 


'"'  Lettor  to  his  wife,  writttii   from  East  Cain,  Pa.,  Seventh  month 
22,  1813. 


LIFE   AND    LABORS  OF     ELIAS  HICKS  63 

to  be  still  and  silent  at  the  sini]jle  call  of  the  crier:  How 
much  more  reasonable  is  it,  for  a  collection  of  people, 
promiscuously  gathered  to  the  place  appointed  in  a  religious 
way,  to  wait  upon,  and  worship  the  Judge  of  heaven  and 
earth,  to  be  still,  and  strive  to  silence  every  selfish  and 
creaturely  thought  and  cogitation  of  the  mind.  For  such 
thoughts  and  cogitations  would  as  certainly  prevent  our 
hearing  the  inward  divine  voice  of  the  King  of  heaven,  and 
as  effectually  hinder  our  worshipping  him  in  spirit  and  in 
truth,  as  the  talking  of  the  multitude  at  a  court  of  moral 
law,  would  interrupt  the  business  thereof.  As  I  proceeded 
with  this  simile,  the  subject  enlarged  and  spread,  accom- 
panied with  gospel  power  and  the  evident  demonstration  of 
the  spirit,  whereby  truth  was  raised  into  victory,  and  ran 
as  oil  over  all.  The  meeting  closed  with  solemn  supplica- 
tion and  thanksgiving  to  the  Lord  our  gracious  Helper,  to 
whom  all  the  honor  and  glory  iDclong.  both  now  and  for- 
ever." '" 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  opinion  of  Elias  Hicks 
as  to  the  inspiration  of  the  minister,  he  evidently  did  not 
consider  that  it  was  so  impersonal  and  accidental,  or  so 
entirely  outside  the  preacher,  as  to  demand  no  care  on  his 
own  part.  The  following  advisory  statement  almost  pro- 
vides for  what  might  be  called  "preparation :" 

"In  those  large  meetings,  where  Friends  are  collected 
from  various  parts,  the  weak  and  the  strong  together,  and 
especially  in  those  for  worship,  it  is  essentially  necessary 
that  Friends  get  inward,  and  wait  in  their  proper  gifts, 
keeping  in  view  their  standing  and  place  in  society,  espe- 
cially those  in  the  ministry.  For  otherwise  there  is  danger 
even  from  a  desire  to  do  good,  of  being  caught  with  the 
enemies'  transformations,  particularly  with  those  that  are 
young,  and  inexperienced;  for  we  seldom  sit  in  meetings  but 
some  prospect  presents,  which  has  a  likeness,  in  its  first 
impression,  to  the  right  thing ;  and  as  these  feel  naturally 
fearful  of  speaking  in  large  meetings,  and  in  the  presence 
of  their  elderly  friends,  and  apprehending  they  are  likely  to 
ha\e  something  to  oiTer,  they  are  suddenly  struck  with  the 


'Journal,  p.  248, 


64  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

fear  of  man,  and  thereby  prevented  from  centering  down 
to  their  gifts,  so  as  to  discover  whether  it  is  a  right  motion 
or  not;  and  the  accuser  of  the  brethren,  who  is  always 
ready  with  his  transformations  to  deceive,  charges  with 
nnfaithfnhiess  and  disobecHence,  by  which  they  are  driven 
to  act  without  any  clear  prospect,  and  find  little  to  say,  ex- 
cept making  an  apology  for  them  thus  standing;  by  which 
they  often  disturb  the  meeting,  and  prevent  others,  who 
are  rightl}'  called  to  the  work,  and  thereby  wound  the 
minds  of  the  living  baptized  members."  ^^ 

The  responsibility  which  Elias  Hicks  felt  for  the  meet- 
ing" of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  in  which  he  felt  called 
to  minister,  is  well  illustrated  in  the  following  quotation : 

'"I  was  under  considerable  bodily  indisposition  most 
of  this  week.  ( )n  Fifth-day.  so  much  so,  as  almost  to  give 
up  the  prospect  of  getting  to  meeting;  but  I  put  on  my 
usual  resolution  and  went,  and  was  glad  in  so  doing,  as 
there  I  met  with  that  peace  of  God  that  passeth  all  under- 
standing, which  is  only  known  by  being  felt.  I  had  to  de- 
clare to  my  friends  how  good  it  is  to  trust  in  the  Lord  with 
all  the  heart,  and  lean  not  to  our  own  understandings,  lest 
they    fail    us."  '' 

This  records  no  uncommon  occurrence.  He  was  often 
indisposed,  but  the  illness  had  to  be  severe  if  it  kept  liim 
awav  from  meeting. 

J)uring  his  later  life  he  was  frequent!}-  indisposed,  and 
sometimes  under  such  bodily  pain  when  speaking  that  he 
was  forced  to  stop  in  the  midst  of  a  discourse.  This 
happened  in  Green  Street  ^Meeting  House.  Philadelphia. 
Ele\enth  month  12,  1826.  On  this  occasion  the  stenog- 
rapher says  that  after  "leaving  his  place  for  a  few  minutes, 
he  resumed."  louring  this  particular  sermon  Elias  sat  down 
twice,  beside  the  time  mentioned,  evidently  to  recover  physi- 
cal strength. 


''  Journal,  p.  230. 
"  Journal,  p.  2.30. 


LIFE  ANH    I.AROKS  OF  Kl.lAS   HICKS  65 

Klias  Hicks  was  not  one  of  those  ministers  who  always 
spoke  if  he  attended  meeting-.  Many  times  he  was  silent; 
this  being  especially  true  when  in  liis  home  meeting. 
When  on  a  religions  visit  he  generally  spoke,  hut  not  always. 
'J1ial  his  willingess  to  "famish  the  people  fmm  words,'* 
tended  to  his  local  popnlaritx",  is  cpiite  certain. 

The  printed  sermons  of  Elias  Hicks  wonM  indicate  that 
at  times  he  was  qnite  lengthy,  and  seldom  ])rc;iclied  what  is 
known  now  as  a  short,  ten-minnte  sermon,  i^stimating  a 
number  of  sermons,  we  hnd  that  they  averaged  al)ont  6500 
words,  so  that  his  sermons  must  have  generally  i»ccnpied 
from  thirty  to  forty-five  minutes  in  delivery.  Occasionally 
a  sermon  contained  over  (Sooo  words,  wdiile  sometimes  less 
than  4000  words. 

9 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Home  at  Jericho. 

The  village  of  Jericho.  Long  Island,  is  about  25  miles 
east  of  New  York  City,  in  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay.  It 
has  had  no  considerable  growth  since  the  days  of  Elias 
Hicks,  and  now  contains  only  about  a  score  and  a  half  of 
houses.  Hicksville,  less  than  two  miles  away,  the  railroad 
statit^n  for  the  older  hamlet,  contains  a  population  of  a 
couple  of  thousand.  It  was  named  for  Valentine  Hicks, 
the  son-in-law  of  Elias. 

Running  through  Jericho  is  the  main-traveled  road  from 
the  eastern  part  of  Long  Island  to  Xew  York,  called  Jericho 
Pike.  In  our  time  it  is  a  famous  thoroughfare  for  auto- 
mobiles, is  thoroughly  modern,  and  as  smooth  and  hard  as 
a  barn  floor.  In  former  da}"s  it  was  a  toll-road,  and  o\'er 
it  Elias  Hicks  often  traveled.  A  cross-country  road  runs 
through  Jericho  nearly  north  and  south,  leading  to  Oyster 
Ray.  On  tliis  road,  a  few  rods  to  the  north  from  the  turn 
in  the  Jericho  Pike  stands  the  house  which  was  originaHy 
the  Seaman  homestead,  where  Elias  Hicks  lived  from  soon 
after  his  marriage  till  his  death. 

The  house  was  large  and  commodious  for  its  time,  but 
has  been  remodeled,  so  that  only  part  of  the  building  now 
standing  is  as  it  was  eighty  years  ago.  The  house  ends  to 
the  road,  with  entrance  from  the  south  side.  It  was  of  the 
popular  Long  Island  and  Xew  Eng"land  construction,  shin- 
gled from  celler  wall  to  ridge-pole.  Vnm  rooms  on  the  east 
end  of  the  h<xise.  two  upstairs  and  two  down,  are  practically 

66 


1.1  FK  AND    l.AltORS  OF   KLIAS   HICKS  67 

ns  they  were  in  the  (hiys  of  Ehas  Hicks.  In  one  of  these  he 
had  his  paralytic  stroke,  and  in  another  he  passed  away. 
The  comparatixely  wide  liall  wiiich  rnns  across  tiie  honse. 
with  the  exception  of  the  stairwa\',  is  as  it  was  in  the  time 
of  its  disting-nished  occupant.  A  new  stairway  of  modern 
construction  now  occupies  the  o})posite  side  of  the  hah  from 
the  one  of  the  older  time,  ddiis  hall-way.  it  is  said.  Fdias 
Hicks  loved  to  promenade,  sometimes  with  his  visitors,  and 
here  with  characteristic  warmth  of  feeling'  he  sped  his 
parting-  guests,    when   the   time    for   their   departure   came. 

Like  the  most  of  his  neighhors.  Elias  Hicks  was  a 
farmer.  The  home  place  prohahly  contained  about  seventy- 
live  acres,  but  he  possessed  detached  pieces  oi  land,  part  of  it 
in  timber.  Se\eral  years  before  his  death  he  sold  forty 
acres  i^f  the  farm  to  his  son-in-law,  Valentine  Hicks,  thus 
consideral)ly  reducing  the  care  which  adxancing  years  rmd 
increased  religious  labor  made  advisable. 

Jericho  still  retains  its  agricultural  character  more  than 
some  of  the  other  sections  of  neighboring  Long  Island. 
The  multi-millionaire  and  the  real  estate  exploiter  have  ab- 
sorbed many  of  the  old  Friendly  homes  toward  the  West- 
burv  neighborhood,  and  are  ])ushing  their  ambitious  intent  at 
land-grabbing  down  the  Jericho  road. 

If  Elias  were  to  return  and  make  a  visit  from  Jericho 
to  the  meeting  at  Westbury,  as  he  often  did  in  his  time, 
three  or  four  miles  away,  he  would  pass  more  whizzing 
automobiles  en  route  than  he  would  teams,  and  would  see 
the  landscape  beautifully  adorned  with  lawns  and  walks, 
with  parks  and  drives  on  the  hillsides,  not  to  mention  the 
costly  Roman  garden  of  one  of  Pittsburg's  captains  of  in- 
dustry. Should  he  so  elect,  he  could  be  whirled  in  a 
gasoline  car  in  a  few  minutes  over  a  distance  which  it 
probably  took  him  the  l)etter  part  of  an  hour  to  make  in 
his  (lav.      As  he  went  along  he  could  muse  over  snatches  of 


68  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

Goldsmiths'  "Deserted  X'illage,"  like  the  following",  which 
would  he  approximately,  if  not  literally,  true: 

"Hoards,  e'en  beyond  the  miser's  wiiili  abound, 
And  rich  men  flock  from  all  the  world  aroimd. 
Yet  count  our  gains  :  this  wealth  is  but  a  name 
That   leaves  our  useful  products  just   the   same. 
And  so  the  loss :  the  man  of  wealth  and  pride 
Takes  up  the  place  that  many  poor  supplied ; 
Space   for  his  lake,  his  parks  extending  bounds, 
Space   for   his   horses,   equipage   and   hoxmds, 
The  robe  that  wraps  his  limbs  in  silken  sloth, 
Has  robbed  tlie  neighboring  fields  of   half   their  growth." 

But  there  are  some  compensations  in  the  modern  scene, 
and  however  emotionally  sad  the  change,  the  helpfully  sug- 
gestive side  is  not  in  lamentation  over  the  inevital)le,  hut  in 
considering  the  growing  demands  which  the  situation  makes 
upon  the  practical  spiritual  religion  wdiich  Elias  Hicks 
j)reache(l,  and  in  wliich  his  successors  still  profess  to  helieve. 

A  hundred  years  ago,  wheat  was  a  regular  and  staple 
farm  product  on  Long  Island,  especially  in  and  around 
Jericho,  and  on  the  Hicks  farm.  But  no  wheat  is  raised 
in  this  section  now.  The  farmer  hnds  it  more  profitable 
to  raise  the  more  i^erishable  vegetables  to  feed  the  himgry 
hordes  of  the  great  city,  which  has  crowded  itself  nearer  and 
nearer  to  the  farmers'  domain. 

Less  than  a  (juarter  of  a  mile  up  the  road  from  the 
Hicks  home  is  the  Friends'  Meeting  House,  which  Elias 
Hicks  helped  to  build,  if  he  did  not  design  it.  The  timbers 
and  rafters,  which  were  large,  and  are  still  sound  to  the 
core,  were  hewed  by  hand  of  course.  Like  most  of  the 
neighboring  buildings,  its  sides  were  shingled,  and  probably 
the  original  shingles  have  not  been  replaced  since  the  house 
was  built,  a  himdred  and  tw^enty-two  years  ag-(5.  The  "pub- 
lic gallery"  contained  benches  sloping  steeply  one  above  the 
other,  making  the  view  of  the  preacher's  gallery  easy  from 


LIFE  AND  LAB(JRS  OF  FLIAS  HICKS  69 

these  elevated  positions.  Over  the  preacher's  gallery,  and. 
facing  the  one  just  described,  is  room  for  a  row  of  seats 
l)ehind  a  railing.  Whether  this  was  a  sort  of  a  "watch- 
tower"  from  which  the  elders  might  observe  the  deportment 
of  the  young  people  in  the  seats  opposite,  or  whether  it  was 
simply  used  for  overflow  purposes,  tradition  dijes  not  tell 
us. 

The  fact  probably  is  that  what  is  known  as  the  Hicks 
property  at  Jericho  came  to  Elias  by  his  wife  Jemima. 
There  is  every  reason  t(»  believe  that  at  the  time  of  his 
marriage  he  was  a  poor  man.  and  as  the  young  folks  took 
up  their  residence  at  the  Seaman  home  soon  after  their 
marriage,  there  was  no  time  for  an  accumulation  of  prop- 
erty on  the  part  of  the  head  of  the  new  family.  The 
economic  situation  involved  in  the  matter  under  considera- 
tion had  a  most  important  bearing  on  the  religious  service 
of  Elias  Hicks.  Taking  the  Seaman  farm  brought  him 
economic  certainty,  if  not  indei)endence.  It  is  hardly  con- 
ceivable that  he  could  have  given  the  large  attention  t(3  the 
"free  gospel  ministry"  which  he  did.  had  there  been  a 
struegfle  with  debt  and  difficult\-  which  was  so  incidental  in 
laying  the  foundations  of  even  a  moderate  success  a  century 
and  a  quarter  ago.  It  is  by  no  means  to  be  inferred,  how- 
ever, that  Elias  Hicks  was  ever  a  wealthy  man,  or  possessed 
the  means  of  luxury,  for  which  of  course  he  had  no  desire, 
and  against  which  he  bore  a  life-long  testimony.  The  real 
point  to  be  gratefully  remembered  is  that  he  was  not  over- 
burdened with  the  care  and  worry  which  a  less  desirable 
economic  condition  would  have  enforced. 

In  the  main,  Elias  Hicks  saw  his  married  children  settle 
around  him.  Royal  Aldrich.  who  married  his  oldest 
daughter,  had  a  tannery,  and  lived  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  road  not  far  away.  Valentine  Hicks,  who  married 
another  daughter,   had   a   somewhat   pretentious   house   for 


70  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  FLLAS  JIICKS 

the  time,  at  the  foot  of  the  httle  hill  approaching-  the  nieet- 
iiii^-  house,  and  just  heyond  the  house  of  Klias,  Robert  Sea- 
man, wlio  married  the  }-oung-est  daughter,  lixed  only  a  few 
steps  away.  Joshua  A\'illets.  who  married  llie  tliird 
daughter,  resided  nn  the  south  side  of  the  island,  some  miles 
distant.  The  tiiue  of  scattering  families,  lured  h\'  business 
C)Utlook  and  economic  advantage,  had  not  vet  arrived. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The    Hicks   Family. 

In  the  liome  at  Jericho  the  children  of  EHas  Hicks 
were  born.  Touching  his  family  we  have  this  bit  of  inter- 
esting information  from  Elias  Hicks  himself: 

"Aly  wife,  although  not  of  a  very  strong  constitution, 
lived  to  be  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  four  sons  and 
seven  daughters.  Our  second  daughter,  a  very  lovely 
promising  child,  died  when  young  with  the  small  pox.  and 
the  youngest  was  not  living  at  its  birth.  The  rest  all 
arrived  to  years  of  discretion,  and  afforded  us  considerable 
comfort,  as  they  proved  to  be  in  a  good  degree  dutiful 
children.  All  our  sons,  however,  were  of  weak  constitu- 
tions, and  were  not  able  to  take  care  of  themselves,  being 
so  enfeebled  as  not  to  be  able  to  walk  after  the  ninth  year 
of  their  age.  The  two  eldest  died  in  the  fifteenth  year  of 
their  age,  the  third  in  his  seventeenth  year,  and  the  young- 
est was  nearly  nineteen  when  he  died.  But,  although  thus 
helpless,  the  innocency  of  their  lives,  and  the  resigned 
cheerfulness  of  their  dispositions  to  their  allotments,  made 
the  labour  and  toil  of  taking  care  of  them  agreeable  and 
pleasant ;  and  I  trust  we  were  preserved  from  murmuring 
or  repining,  believing  the  dispensation  to  be  in  wisdom,  and 
according  to  the  will  and  gracious  disposing  of  an  all-wise 
providence,  for  purposes  best  known  to  himself.  And  when 
I  have  observed  the  great  anxiety  and  afdiction,  which  many 
parents  have  with  undutiful  children  who  are  favoured 
with  health,  especially  their  sons,  I  could  perceive  very 
few  whose  troubles  and  exercises,  on  that  account,  did  not 
far  exceed  ours.  The  weakness  and  bodily  infirmity  of  our 
sons  tended  to  keep  them  much  out  of  the  way  of  the 
troubles  and  temptations  of  the  world  ;  and  we  believed 
that  in  their  death  they  were  happy,  and  admitted  into  the 
realms  of  peace  and  jov  ;  a  reflection,  the  most  comfortable 

71 


72  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELI  AS   HICKS 

and  ioyt)us  tlial  parents  can  liave  in  retjard  to  their  tender 
off sprin <:;;.''  ' 

The  children  thus  referred  to  hy  their  fatiier  were 
the  following":  Martha,  born  in  ij/i.  She  married  Royal 
Aldrich.  and  died  in  iS^j,  at  the  ad\'anced  age  of  ninet}- 
one.      She  was  a  widow   for  about  twenty  years. 

David  was  born  in  1773.  and  died  in  1787.  Elias. 
the  second  son,  was  born  in  1774.  and  died  the  same  year 
as  his  brother  Da\'id.  Fdizabeth  was  born  in.  1777-  and 
died  in  1779.  This  is  the  daughter  who  had  the  small 
pox.  Hiere  are  no  records  telling  whether  the  other  mem- 
I)ers  of  the  family  had  the  disease,  or  how  this  child  of  two 
years  became  a  victim  of  the  contagion. 

Phebe.  the  third  daughter,  was  born  in  1779.  She 
married  Joshua   Willets.   as  noted  in  the  last  chapter. 

Abigail,  who  married  X'alentine  Hicks,  a  nephew  of 
Elias.  was  born  in  1782  She  died  Second  month  26,  1850, 
while  her  husband  passed  away  the  5t]i  of  Third  month  of 
the  same  vear.  just  one  week  after  the  death  of  his  wife 

Jonathan,  the  third  son.  was  born  in  1784.  and  passed 
awav  in  1802.  His  brother.  John.  A\as  born  in  1789.  and 
died  in  1805. 

Elizabeth,  evidently  named  for  her  little  sister,  was 
born  in  1791.  and  lived  to  a  g(^od  old  age.  She  passed 
a\va\"  in  1781.  She  was  never  married,  and  occasionally 
accompanied  her  father  on  his  religious  \-isits.  She  was 
known  in  the  neighborhood,  in  her  later  years  at  least,  as 
"Aunt  Elizabeth."  and  is  the  l)est-remembered  of  any  of 
the  children  of  Elias  Hicks.  As  the  Friends  remember  her 
she  was  a  spare  woman,  never  weighing  o\er  ninety  pounds. 

The  voung'est  child  of  the  familv.  Sarah,  was  born  in 


Journal.   ]>.    14. 


\.\FK  AND  I.ARORS  OF  \'AA.\S  HICKS  73 

17()3.      She  inarric'd  l\(»l)rrt  Scimaii.  hci"  kinsman,  and  died 
in    [X35.      Kohcrt.  licr  Inishand,  died  in    1  SOo. 

It  will  he  seen  that  the  home  cat  Jericho  was  a  Imuse 
ac([uainted  with  £;riet'.  Of  the  ten  children,  Martha.  David, 
FJias  and  little  Kli/aheth  ma<le  np  the  jn\enile  memhers  of 
the  hotisehold,  tip  to  the  time  of  the  death  of  the  latter. 
Phebe  came  the  same  year,  while  Al)i<;ail  was  born  three 
rears  later,  so  that  there  were  at  least  fonr  or  fne  children 
always  g-athered  around  the  family  board,  liefore  the  pass- 
int^-  awav  of  Ellas  and  l)a\id,  tlie  famil\-  had  been  increased 
bv  the  birth  of  jonatlian,  making-  the  chiklren  lixin^'  at  one 
time  six.  After  the  death  of  the  three  older  boys,  and  the 
birth  of  Elizabeth  and  Sarah,  until  the  death  of  John  in 
1805.  the  living-  children  were  still  six  in  number,  dhc 
fi\-e  dauo'hters,  Martha.  Phebe.  Abii^ail.  l^lizabeth  and  S.arah 
all  outlived  their  ])arents. 

Elias  Hicks  was  inidoubtedly  a  most  alfectionate  father, 
as  the  letters  to  his  wife  and  cliildren  show.  How  mu.cii 
this  was  diluted  by  the  apparent  sternness  of  his  relig"i(nis 
concerns  is  a  matter  for  the  imagination  to  deteriuine. 
What  were  the  amusements  of  this  large  family  is  an  inter- 
esting question  in  this  "age  of  the  child."  with  its  surleit 
of  toys  and  gaiues.  What  were  the  tasks  of  the  girls  it  is 
not  so  hard  to  answer.  Of  course  the}-  worked  "saiuplers," 
pieted  cjuilts,  learned  to  spin  and  knit,  and  possibly  to  wea\e, 
and  to  prepare  the  wool  or  flax  for  the  looiu.  Tf  we  read 
between  the  lines  in  the  description  of  their  father,  we  can 
easily  infer  that  the  physically  afiflicted  sons  were  neverthe- 
less-not  wdthout  the  joys  of  boyhood. 

At  all  events,  if  it  was  an  afflicted  family,  it  was  also 
a  united  one.  It  was  a  home  where  the  i^arents  were  rever- 
enced by  the  children,  and  where  there  was  a  feeling  of 
love,  and  a  sense  of  loyalty.     This  feeling  is  still  character- 

10 


74  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS   HJCKS 

islic  of  the  descendants  of  l^lias  llicks.  It  is  a  sample  of 
the  persistence  of  tlie  (pialities  of  a  strong  man,  in  the  gen- 
erations that  come  after  him. 

Oi  the  four  daughters  of  h'has  Hicks  who  were 
married,  hut  two  liad  cliil(h"en.  so  that  the  lineal  descendants 
of  the  celehrated  Jericho  preacher  are  eitlier  descendants  of 
Martha  Hicks,  wife  of  Valentine,  or  of  Sarah  Hicks  Sea- 
man. These  two  hranches  of  tlie  family  are  quite 
numerous.  ' 

Of  Jemima,  the  wife  of  i^^lias  Hicks,  little  is  kntnvn 
apart  from  the  correspondence  of  her  hushand,  and  that  is 
considerahle.  That  he  considered  her  his  real  help-meet, 
and  had  for  her  a  lover's  affection  to  the  end  is  abundantly 
attested  Iw  all  of  the  facts.  Dame  Rumor,  in  the  region  of 
Jericho,  claims  that  she  was  her  husband's  intellectual  in- 
ferior, but  that  is  an  indellnite  comparison  worth  \ery  little. 
That  she  was  at  some  points  his  superior  is  undoubtedly 
true,  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  Elias  himself,  with  all 
of  his  great  natural  ability,  lacked  intellectual  culture  and 
literary  training.  Jemima  was  e\identl\-  a  go(td  house- 
keeper, and  manager  of  affairs.  Before  she  had  sons-in- 
law  with  whom  to  ad\ise,  and  even  after  that,  the  business 
side  of  the  family  was  a  ccmsiderable  part  of  the  time  in  her 
hands.  It  is  no  small  matter  to  throw  upon  a  woman, 
never  robust,  the  responsibility  of  both  the  mother  and 
father  of  a  family  during  the  prolonged  absence  of  the 
husband. 

The  first  long  religious  visit  of  Elias  Hicks  lasted  ten 
weeks.  At  that  time  there  were  four  little  people  in  the 
Hicks  home,  from  eight-year-old  Alartha  to  two-year-old 
Elizabeth,  who  died  that  year,  while  Phebe  was  born  after 
the  return  of  her  father  from  his  Philadelphia  tri]).      Sev- 


*  The  descendanis  referred  ti)  will  be  given   in  tlieir  jimper  place 
in  the  Appemlix. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  F.I.L\S  HICKS  75 

cral  of  the  other  extended  journeys  were  made  wliile  the 
ehil(h"en  of  the  family  were  of  an  a^e  reijuirinj^'  care.  Of 
course  this  hiid  hihor  and  responsihihty  on  the  wife  and 
motlier.  These  she  bore  without  comphiining;  and.  we  may 
he  sure,  with  executive  abihty  of  no  mean  order. 

1 1  was  a  time  when  women  were  not  expected  to  he 
eitlier  tln'  intellectual  ])eers  or  com])anions  of  their  lnisl)ands, 
and  we  cannot  justly  a])plN'  the  measurements  and  standards 
of  to-day,  to  the  women  of  a  century  ago.  Men  of  the 
Elias  Hicks  tyix-.  meeting  their  fellows  in  ])ublic 'assemblies 
and  ministering  to  them,  traxeling  widely  and  forming 
many  friendships,  wdiether  in  the  Societ}'  of  Friends  or  out 
of  it,  are  likely  to  be  praised,  if  not  petted,  while  their 
wives,  less  known,  labor  on  unappreciated.  Such  a  woman 
was  Jemima  Hicks.  To  her,  and  all  like  her,  the  lasting 
gratitude  of  the  sons  of  men  is  due. 


CHAPTKR  X. 

Letters    to    his    Wife. 

T\'  THK  liiiii^-  al)sences  from  lionic,  wliicli  the  religinus 
\isits  of  I'^lias  Fiicks  imoK-ed,  as  a  matter  of  course  many 
of  tlie  domestic  Ijurdens  fell  heavily  tipon  his  wife.  In  so 
far  as  he  conld  atone  for  his  ahsence  by  sending"  epistles 
home  he  did  so.  Tn  fact,  for  the  times,  he  was  a  voluminous 
letter  writer. 

It  was  not  a  time  of  rapid  transit.  Distances  now 
S])anned  in  a  few  hours  demanded  da_\'s  and  weeks  when 
I'dias  Micks  was  actix'e  in  the  ministry.  At  the  best,  hut 
a  few  letters  could  reach  home  from  the  tra\'eler  absent  for 
se\ei-al  months. 

In  the  main  the  letters  which  hdias  sent  to  his  beloxcd 
jemima  were  of  the  ardent  kn'er-like  soi't.  It  seemed  im- 
])ossil)le.  howe\er,  for  him  to  a\'oid  the  preacherly  function 
in  even  his  mo^^t  tender  and  domestic  missives.  Exhorta- 
tious  to  practical  righteousness,  and  to  the  maintenance  of 
what  he  cousidered  the  I'riendly  fundamentals,  were  plenti- 
fully mixed  with  his  most  ])ri\"ate  and  personal  concerns. 

In  going  o\"er  this  correspondence  one  wishes  for  more 
discri])tion,  relating  to  the  human  side  of  the  traveler's 
ex])eriences.  A  man  who  sex'eral  times  traversed  what  was 
realh'  the  width  of  habitable  Aiuerica,  and  mostly  either  in 
a  wagon  or  on  horseback,  must  have  seen  much  th.at  was 
interesting,  and  man_\-  times  humorous  and  e\'en  ])athetic. 
But  few  of  these  things  moved  Rlias  Hicks,  or  di\"erted  bin; 
from  what  he  considered  the  ])urely  gospel  character  of  his 
mission. 

.^till  there  is  much  worth  while  in  this  <lomestic  corre- 

?(> 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  f)F  FJJAS   MICKS  77 

spondence.  I"'i"nm  it  we  ci)iii])ile  and  annotate  such  extracts 
as  seem  Id  liel])  re\eal  tlie  cliaracter  nf  the  man  \\li<>  wrote 
tliem. 

On  the  13th  of  I'Ji^hth  month,  1  7.SS,  l^has  was  at  I'reek, 
now  Clinton  Corners,  in  Dutchess  count\',  Xew  NDrk.  h'roni 
a  letter  written  to  his  wife  tliat  da}-,  we  ([note: 

■"Aly  heart  ^lovvs  at  this  time  with  nuich  love  and  af- 
fection for  thee  and  otir  dear  children,  with  breathing;"  desires 
for  your  preservation,  and  that  thou,  my  dear,  may  be  ke])t 
in  a  state  of  due  watchfulness  over  thyself,  and  tliose  dear 
lambs  under  th_\-  care,  that  nothino-  may  interru])t  the  cur- 
rent of  pure  lo\e  amon^'  \du  in  my  absence." 

A  letter  dated  "L\nn.  Massachusetts,  )'e  24tli  of  eightli 
month,  i7<Lv"  'I'l'l  \vritten  to  his  wife,  is  of  ])ectiliar  interest. 
We  (piote  the  lirst  sentences: 

"I  receixed  last  evening-,  at  my  return  to  this  ])lace  from 
the  East,  thy  very  acceptable  letter  of  the  U)th  instant. 
.  .  .  Idle  contents,  except  the  account  of  the  pain  in  thy 
side,  were  truly  comfortable.  That  part  wherein  thou  ex- 
l)resseth  a  resignation  to  the  Divine  Will,  was  particularly 
satisfactory,  for  in  this,  my  dear,  consists  our  chiefest  happi- 
ness and  Consolation." 

He  sometimes  ex])ressed  a  sense  of  lt)ne]iness  in  h:s 
lra\els,  l)ut  was  certain  of  the  nearness  of  tlie  I)i\'ine  Spirit. 
In  the  letter  mentioned  al)o\e  he  said: 

■"Thou  hast  cause  to  believe  with  me,  my  dear,  that  it 
was  He  that  first  united  our  hearts  too-ether  in  the  ])onds  of 
an  endeared  lo\'e  and  affection.  So  it  is  He  that  has  kept 
and  preserved  us  all  our  life  loui^.  and  hath  caused  us  to 
witness  an  increase  of  that  unfadini^  love,  which  as  thou 
expresseth  is  ever  new." 

E\-idently  his  l)elo\ed  Jemima,  like  Martha  of  old,  was 
tinduh"  troubled  about  man\'  thing's,  for  we  hnd  bdias  in  his 
letter   induli^ing"   in    the    following   warning:    "And    let   me 


78  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

again  hint  to  tlifc  a  care  ()\er  tliyself,  for  I  tear  llinu  wilt 
expose  tli)self  1)\-  too  nincli  Ixidily  exercise  in  the  care  of  tliy 
business." 

It  is  sehloni  that  we  hnd  even  a  tiny,-e  of  coniphiinini;  in 
any  of  his  letters.  It  seems,  howe\-er,  that  his  women  folks 
were  not  indnstriotis  correspondents.  In  closing"  the  letter 
noted  he  tlnis  expressed  himself: 

"My  companion  receives  his  packet  of  letters,  frecpiently 
four,  ti\e  or  six  at  a  time,  which  makes  me  feel  as  if  1  was 
forgotten  by  my  friends.  ha\ing  received  but  two  small 
letters  from  home  since  I  left  you.  And  thou  writest,  my 
dear,  as  if  paper  was  scarce,  on  very  small  pieces.'' 

On  the  T,(\  of  Xinth  nimith.  of  the  same  year,  a  letter 
was  written  to  his  wife,  much  like  the  foregoing.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  Elias  was  at  this  time  the  guest  of 
Moses  Brown  (in  Providence),  the  founder  of  the  Moses 
Brown  School.  The  small  pieces  of  paper  mentioned  are 
hints  of  a  wifely  economy,  not  altogether  appro^'ed  by  her 
very  econoniical  husband.  Iliere  is  a  gentle  tinge  of  rebtike 
in  the  following,  written  from  Nine  Partners,  Eleventh 
month  19,  18 18.  The  temptation  is  strong  to  read  into 
these  lines,  a  grain  of  humor  touching  the  mtich-talked-of 
persistence  of  a  woman's  will ; 

'"Inasmuch  as  I  have  often  felt  concerned  when  thus 
absent,  least  thou  should  worry  thyself,  with  too  much  care 
and  labor  in  regard  to  our  temporal  concerns,  and  have 
often  desired  thee  to  be  careful  in  that  respect,  but  mostly 
without  effect,  by  reason  that  thou  art  so  choice  of  thy  own 
free  agency  as  to  be  afraid  to  take  the  advice  of  thy  best 
friend,  lest  it  might  mar  that  great  privilege ;  I  therefore 
now  propose  to  leave  thee  at  full  liberty  to  use  it  in  thine 
own  pleasure  with  the  addition  of  this  desire,  that  thou  use 
it  in  that  way  as  will  produce  to  thee  the  most  true  com- 
fort and  joy,  and  then  T  trust  T  shall  be  comforted,  my 
dear,  in  thy  comfort,  and  joyful  in  thy  joy." 

A  letter  dated  West  Jersey,  near  Salem,  the  6th  of  First 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  FLIAS   HICKS  7q 

month,  1798,  mentions  a  sini^iilar  concern  abont  a]Ji)arel.  He 
exhorts  his  wife  to  gnard  the  tender  minds  of  tlieir  chikh-en 
from  "fooHsh  and  worldly  x'anities,"  and  tlien  drops  into  a 
personal  and  general  statement  regarding-  what  he  consid- 
ered simplicity  and  plainness  as  follows : 

"Great  is  the  apparent  departure  t)(ini  primitive  i)nrity 
and  plainness  among  many  professors  of  the  truth,  where 
our  lots  have  been  cast.  Foreseeing  that  I  may  often  be 
led  in  a  line  of  close  doctrine  to  such  it  has  brought  me 
under  close  self-examination,  knowing  for  certain  that  those 
who  have  to  deal  out  to  others  ought  to  look  well  to  their 
own  going.  In  this  time  of  scrutiny  nothing  turned  up  as 
bringing  reproof  to  my  mind  concerning  our  children,  but 
the  manner  of  wearing  their  gown  sleeves  long  and  pinne<l 
at  the  wrist.  This  I  found  to  strike  at  the  pure  life,  and 
wounded  my  mind.  1  clearly  saw-  my  deficiency  that  I  had 
not  more  endeavored  to  have  it  done  away  with  before  I 
left  home,  for  I  felt  it  as  a  burden  then.  lUit  seeing  our 
dear  daughters  had  manifested  so  much  condescension  in 
other  things,  and  this  being  like  one  of  the  least,  I  en- 
deavored to  be  easy  under  it.  But  feeling  it  with  assurance 
not  to  be  a  plant  of  our  Heavenly  Father's  right-hand  plant- 
ing, think  it  ought  to  be  plucked  up.  Let  our  dear 
daughters  read  these  lines,  and  tell  them  their  dear  father 
prays  they  may  wisely  consider  the  matter,  and  if  they  can 
be  Avilling  so  far  to  condescend  to  my  desire  while  absent 
as  to  have  these  things  removed,  it  will  be  as  balsam  to  my 
wounded  sj^irit.  and  they  will  not  go  without  their  reward. 
l>ut  their  father's  God  will  bless  them  and  become  their 
(jod,  as  they  are  faithful  to  his  reproofs  in  their  hearts, 
and  w^alk  fearfully  before  Him.  He  will  redeem  them,  out 
of  all  adversity  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  His  grace,  who 
is   over   all,   God,   blessed   forever.'' 

During  a  visit  to  Nine  Partners.  Twelfth  month  15, 
1803.  Elias  wrote  to  Jemima.  Evidently  she  had  repelled 
the  inference,  if  not  the  implication,  that  she  had  been  negli- 
gent in  her  correspondence,  for  we  find  the  letter  in  (piestion 
beginning  in  this  fashion: 

"Although  I  wrote  thee  pretty  fullv  last  evening,  yet 
having  since  that  rccei\-ed  a  precious,  refreshing  letter  from 


8t)  LIFE  AND   LABDRS  OF   l':i.IAS   fUCKS 

thee,  by  fsaac  Frost  (it  heiiij;-  the  first  I  ]ia\e  received  from 
thee  since  I  left  home),  but  finding-  from  thy  last  that  thou 
hast  written  several.  It  affords  a  singular  satisfaction  in 
lindinj;-  thou  hast  been  mindful  of  me.  lUit  1  have  not  com- 
plained, my  dear,  nor  let  in,  nor  indul,i.^ed  a  thought  that 
thou  hadst  forgotten  me.  nor  do  I  believe  thou  couldst. 
There  is  nothing-  while  we  continue  in  our  right  minds  that 
can  dissolve  that  firm  and  precious  bond  of  lo\'e  and  en- 
deared affection,  which  from  our  first  acquaintance  united 
us  together,  and  in  which,  while  writing  these  lines  my 
spirit  greets  thee  with  endeared  eml)races." 

It  surel)-  seems  strange  that  a  man  who  was  the  father 
of  ele\'en  children,  that  his  onl\-  source  of  ])ersonal  "reprr)of"' 
concerning  them,  was  this  little  matter  of  the  sleeves  and 
the  pins.  This  prohablv  is  a  fair  illustration  of  what  ma\' 
be  called  the  conser\atism  of  Elias  Hicks  touching  all  of  the 
peculiarities  of  the  Society  of  b^riends. 

The  postscript  to  a  letter  Avritten  to  jemima  from 
Shrewsbury,  Xew  Jersey,  Twelfth  month  17.  1 707.  reads 
as  follows:  ".\s  thou  writes  l)ut  [)oorl\-,  if  thou  should  get 
Hallet  or  Royal  to  write  superscriptions  on  the  letters,  it 
would  make  them  more  plain  for  couA-eyance." 

It  was  onl}'  seldom  that  business  affairs  at  home  were 
referred  to  in  his  epistles  to  his  wife.  But  occasionally  a 
departure  was  made  from  this  practice.  Where  these  lapses 
do  occtir,  it  wotild  seem  that  they  shouhl  be  noted.  In  the 
fall  of  1822  Elias  was  in  the  Nicinit)-  of  Philadelphia,  and 
was  stopping  with  his  friend  and  kinsman,  I'jhvard  Micks, 
at  Newtown,  in  Bucks  county. 

In  this  letter  he  says:  "My  health  is  much  the  same  as 
when  I  left  home.  I  was  disappointed  in  not  meeting  any 
letters  here,  as  I  feel  very  anxious  how  you  all  do."  We 
copy  tlie  balance  of  the  letter,  wnth  its  tender  admonition 
to  Jemima : 

"I  will  just  remind  thee  that  liefore  T  left  home  I 
put  two  old  ewes  in  the  green  rye  on   the  plains.     If  they 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  F:I.1AS  HICKS  81 

should  improve  as  to  be  fit  to  kill,  I  slimild  be  willing  thou 
would  let  Josiah  have  one  of  them,  as  he  agreed  to  split  up 
some  of  the  timber  that  was  blown  down  in  the  woods 
by  him,  into  rails  and  board  himself.  The  other  thou  might 
sell  or  otherwise  at  thy  pleasure. 

"Now,  my  dear,  let  me  remind  thee  of  thy  increasing 
bodily  infirmities,  and  the  necessity  it  lays  thee  under  to 
spare  thyself  of  the  burthen  and  care  of  much  bodily  and 
mental  labour  and  exercise,  by  which  thou  will  experience 
more  quiet  rest,  both  to  body  and  mind,  and  that  it  may  be, 
my  dear,  our  united  care  to  endeavor  that  our  last  days 
may  be  our  best  days,  that  so  we  may  witness  a  state  and 
(|ualification  to  pass  gently  and  quietly  out  of  time,  into 
the  mansions  of  eternal  blessedness,  where  all  sighing  and 
sorrow,  will  be  at  an  end." 

Willie  in  Pennsylvania,  and  at  what  is  now  Vork, 
Fourth  month  3.  1798,  he  sent  a  tender  missive  home. 
Part  of  it  referred  to  business  matters.  He  gave  directions 
f<^r  preparing  the  ground,  and  planting  potatoes,  and  also 
for  oats  and  flax,  tlie  latter  being  a  crop  practically  unknown 
to  present-day  Long  Island.  He  then  gives  the  following 
direction  regarding  a  financial  obligation : 

"And  as  James  Carhartt  has  a  bond  of  sixty  pounds 
against  me,  of  money  belonging  to  a  Dutchman,  should  be 
glad  if  thou  hast  not  money  enough  by  thee  to  pay  the 
interest  thereof,  thou  would  call  upon  Royal  or  brother 
Joseph  and  get  some,  and  pay  it  the  first  of  Fifth  month." 

While  at  Rahway,  New  Jersey,  Fleventh  month  0. 
iSoi,  on  his  visit  to  l'>iends  in  New  Jersey  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, he  wrote  one  of  his  most  express^^'e  letters  to  Jemima. 
A  postscript  was  attached  directed  to  his  daughters.  To  his 
oldest  daughter.  Martha,  he  sent  an  exhortation  in  wdiich 
he  said:  "My  desires  for  thee,  my  dear,  are  that  thou  may 
be  preserved  innocent  and  chaste  to  the  L(M-d,  for  I  can  have 
no  greater  joy  than  t(^  find  my  children  walking  in  the 
truth." 

That  a  large  part  of  his  concern  was  fr)r  the  comfort 

II 


82  IJFF'.  AM)   LABORS  OF  I-'.LIAS  HICKS 

of  his  wife  in  ilic  Ions;-  ahscnces  from  home  is  ahundanily 
sliown  in  his  entire  correspondence.  The  last  postscript  to 
the  Rahway  letter  is  as  follows: 

"And.  dear  i'hebc  and  Ahii^ail.  remember  yom-  Creator, 
who  made  \ou  not  to  spend  your  time  in  play  and  vanity, 
but  to  be  sober  and  to  live  in  his  fear,  that  he  may  bless 
you.  Be  obedient  to  your  dear  mother,  it  is  my  charge  to 
you.  Love  and  help  her  whatever  you  can ;  it  will  com- 
fort your  dear  father." 

The  2d  of  Eleventh  month,  i8jo,  Elias  arrived  at 
Hudson,  and  learning  that  the  steamboat  to  New  \'ork  was 
to  pass  that  day,  he  prei)ared  and  sent  a  letter  to  his  wife. 
In  this  letter  he  says: 

"It  may  be  that  some  oi  my  friends  may  think  me  so 
far  worth  noticing,  as  to  meet  me  with  a  line  or  two  at  Nine 
Partners,  as  1  have  often  felt  very  desirous  of  hearing  how 
you  fare  at  luime.  but  this  desire  hath  mostly  failed  of 
l)eing  gratified.  I  sui)pose  the  many  things  so  absorb  the 
minds  of  my  friends  at  home,  that  they  have  no  time  to 
think  of  so  poor  a  thing  as  I  am.  But  never  mind  it,  as 
all  things,  it  is  said,  will  work  together  for  good  to  those 
that   love  and  fear   [(iodj." 

While  at  Saratoga,  in  1793,  Elias  wrote  to  Jeniim:i. 
Tenth  month  T5th.  This  is  one  of  his  most  ardent  epistles, 
"C)h.  m\-  dear."  he  sa\-s.  "may  we  ever  kec])  in  remembrance 
the  (la_\-  of  our  es|)otisal  and  gladness  of  our  hearts,  as  1 
i)elieve  it  was  a  measure  of  the  Divine  Image  that  united  our 
hearts  together  in  the  beginning.  It  is  the  same  that  I  be- 
lie\c  has.  and  still  doth  strengthen  the  sweet,  influential  and 
reciprocal  bond,  that  nothing,  I  trust,  as  we  dwell  under  a 
sense  of  Divine  love  and  in  the  pure  fear,  will  ever  be  able 
to  obliterate  or  deface." 

Third  month  15.  1798.  a  letter  was  written  from 
Alexandria,  \\a..  from  which  we  make  this  extract: 

"We  came  here  this  morning  from  Sandy  Spring,  wdiich 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  KLL\S  HR-KS  83 

is  upwards  of  iwctity  tiiilcs  distant.  (lot  in  timely  so  as 
to  attend  their  meeting-  which  began  at  the  tenth  hour. 
Crossed  the  ri\er  J'otcmiac  on  our  way.  We  got  on  horse- 
back about  break  of  day,  and  not  being  very  well  I  thought 
i  felt  the  most  fatigued  before  I  got  in,  I  was  ever  sensible 
of  before.  When  I  came  to  the  meeting,  a  poor  little  one 
it  was.  and  wherein  I  had  to  suiYer  silence  through  the 
meeting  for  worship,  but  in  their  I^rej^arative  which  fol- 
lowed. I  found  my  way  open  in  a  measure  to  ease  my  mind." 


CHAPTER  XT. 

The  Slavery  Question. 

John  Woolmax  was  tlie  month-piece  of  the  best 
Otiaker  conscience  of  the  eighteenth  centnry  on  the  slavery 
question.  For  twenty-hve  years  before  his  death,  in  1772, 
he  was  pleading"  with  the  tenderness  of  a  woman  that  his 
beloved  religious  society  should  clear  itself  from  complicity 
with  the  system  wliich  held  liuman  ])eings  in  bondage.  His 
mantel  apparently  fell  on  Warner  Mifflin,  a  young  man  re- 
siding in  Kent  county.  Delaware,  near  the  little  hamlet  of 
Camden.  In  1775  ^Mifflin  manumitted  his  slaves,  and  was 
followed  by  like  conduct  on  tlie  part  of  his  father,  Daniel 
Mifflin,  a  resident  of  Accomac  County,  in  Virginia. 

Warner  ■Mifflin  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  man  in 
America  to  \-oluntariI\-  give  freedom  to  his  l>on(hnen,  and 
to  make  restitution  to  sticii  of  them  as  were  past  twenty -one, 
for  the  unrecjuited  ser\-ice  which  they  had  rendered  him. 
Be  that  as  it  may.  from  1775,  until  his  deatli  in  1799, 
W^arner  Alifflin,  with  tireless  zeal  labored  with  Friends  per- 
sonally, and  with  meetings  in  their  official  capacity,  to  drive 
the  last  remnant  of  slavery  from  the  Quaker  fold.  His 
efi:'orts  appeared  in  A"arious  monthly  meeting  mintites 
throtighout  Philadelphia  Yearly  Meeting,  and  he  was  not 
1)ackward  in  laying  his  concern  before  the  Yearly  Meeting 
itself.  In  17S3.  on  the  initiative  of  Mifflin,  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing' for  Pennsvlvania,  Xew  Jersew  Delaware  and  tlie 
Western  Parts  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  memorialized 
the  infant  United  States  Congress  in  regard  to  slavery. 
The  document  was  a  striking  one  for  the  time,  w^as  signed 
in  person  by  535  Friends,  and  w^as  presented  to  the  Con- 
gTess  by  a  strong  committee  headed  by  Warner  Mifflin. 

84  ' 


lifp:  and  labors  of  p:lias  hicks  85 

These  effc^rts  at  internal  deliverance  from  ccinnection 
and  complicity  with  slavery  produced  speedy  results,  and 
before  the  close  of  the  century  not  a  Quaker  slave  holder 
remained  in  the  Society,  unless  in  some  obscure  cases  that 
continued  "under  care."  Having  cleared  its  own  skirts  of 
slavery,  the  meml)ers  of  the  Society  became  divided  into 
two  classes— the  one  anxious  that  the  Quaker  conscience 
should  make  its  appeal  to  the  general  conscience  for  the 
entire  abolition  of  the  "great  iniquity."  Idie  other  class, 
satisfied  with  their  own  sinlessness  in  this  particular,  wished 
the  Society  to  remain  passive,  and  in  no  way  mix  with  a 
])ublic  agitation  of  the  mooted  question.  These  two  oppos- 
ing views  distracted  the  Society  dow^i  to  the  very  verge  of 
the  final  issue  in  the  slaveholders'  rebellion. 

Elias  Hicks  was  three  years  Warner  Mitiflin's  junior. 
He  probably  saw  the  Delaware  abolitionist  during  his  visits 
to  Philadelphia  Yearly  Meeting  before  the  death  of  Mifflin. 
Whether  either  ever  saw  c^r  h.eard  John  Woolman  cannot  be 
positively  stated.  Aliffiin  was  twenty-seven  when  the  great 
Xew  Jersey  preacher  and  reformer  passed  aw'ay,  and  must 
have  fallen  under  the  spell  of  Woolman's  inspiring  leader- 
ship. Elias  Hicks  could  hardly  have  escaped  being  influ- 
enced by  this  "elder  brother,"  although  he  may  never  have 
seen  him. 

The  subject  nf  this  biograpli}"  was  among  those  who 
believed  that  the  Society  of  Friends  had  a  message  to  the 
world  along  the  line  of  its  internal  testimony  against 
slavery,  and  he  did  not  hesitate  to  deliver  the  message, 
though  it  distur1)ed  the  superficial  ease  in  Zion.  Still  he 
had  no  definite  plan  apart  from  the  appeal  to  conscience  for 
settling  the  prol)lem. 

It  must  be  rememljered.  however,  that  Elias  Hicks 
])assed  awa}'  before  the  real  abolition  movement,  as  repre- 
sented by   Garrison  and    Phillips   and   their  compeers,   had 


86  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

begun  its  vigorous  agitation,  or  organized  its  widely  applied 
propaganda.  What  the  attitude  of  Elias  would  have  been 
toward  1^'riends  becoming  members  of  the  abolition  socie- 
ties, which  after  his  death  played  such  an  important  part, 
and  touching  which  many  Friends  were  either  in  doubt  or 
in  opposition  we  cannot  even  surmise. 

Benjamin  Lundy'  commenced  his  literary  warfare 
against  slavery,  with  the  ponderously  named  "Genius  of 
Universal  Emancipation."  in  182 1.  Elias  Hicks  was  one  of 
Lundv's  most  concerned  and  faithful  patrons,  in  some  of 
his  undertakings.-  as  appears  in  his  personal  correspondence. 

The  state  of  New  York  provided  for  the  gradual  eman- 
cii)ati()n  of  its  slaves  in  1799.  so  that  Elias  Hicks  had  to  go 
awav  from  home  after  that  period  to  get  into  real  slave  terri- 
torv.  As  has  been  seen  he  began  bearing  his  testimony  in 
meetings  for  worship  against  the  institution  in  Maryland, 
where  slave  holding  was  the  l^w  of  the  land  until  the  end. 

There  are  statements  more  or  less  legendar}^  to  the 
effect  that  Elias  was  the  owner  of  one  slave,  but  of  that 
there  is  no  authentic  evidence,  while  the  probabilities  are  all 
against  it.  li  he  ever  held  a  slave  or  slaves,  he  undoubtedly 
manumitted  them.     An  act  of  such  imj^ortance  would  hardly 


'  Benjamin  Luntly  was  born  of  Quaker  parents,  First  month  4. 
1789,  jn  Sussex  County,  Xew  Jersey.  He  learned  the  trade  of  harness 
maker  and  saddler,  and  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  became  very  mucli 
interes'ed  in  the  slavery  question.  In  1816  he  issued  an  "Address"" 
touching  the  evils  of  slavery.  Of  this  .\ddress,  Horace  Greely  says, 
it  contained  the  germ  of  the  whole  anti-slavery  movement.  In  First 
month,  1821,  he  issued  the  first  number  of  The  Genius  of  Uriivcisal 
limancipatiou.  Lundy  was  interested  in  various  schemes  for  coloniza- 
tion, and  assisted  many  emancipated  negroes  to  go  to  Hayti,  and  con- 
templated the  establishment  of  a  colony  of  colored  people  in  Mexico. 
He  died  at  Lowell.  Illinois,  Eighth  month  22,  1839,  and  was  buried 
in   the   Friends"  burying  groun<l  at   Clear   Creek. 

-Please  inform  Benjamin  Lundy  that  1  have  procured  fifty-two 
subscribers,  or  subscribers  for  fifty-two  books,  entitled,  "Letters,"  etc. — 
Extract  from  letter  to  his  son-in-law,  ValeiUine  Hicks,  dated  Jericho, 
Eleventh  month  6,   1827. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  87 

have  escaped  record  in  the  Journal,  and  no  reference  to  it 
exists. 

The  controversies  and  ihsownments  in  the  Society  of 
Friends  on  account  of  the  slavery  question  really  came  after 
the  death  of  Elias.  The  trouble  in  New  York  resulting 
in  the  disownmeiit  of  Isaac  T.  Hopper,  James  S.  Gibbons 
and  Charles  Marriott  came  on  more  than  a  decade  after 
his  death.  This  entire  controversy  has  been  wrongly  esti- 
mated bv  most  of  the  biographers  and  historians,  repre- 
senting the  pronounced  abolitionists  of  the  period.  It  was 
not  simply  a  contest  between  anti-slavery  Friends  and  pro- 
slavery  Friends.  In  fact  the  moving  spirits  against  Isaac 
T.  Hopper  were  not  advocates  or  defenders  of  slavery  as  an 
institution.  George  F.  White,  who  was  probably  the  head 
and  front  of  the  movement  to  disown  Isaac  T.  Hoj^per,  was 
not  in  favor  of  slaver\-.  After  his  death  his  monthly  meet- 
ing memorialized  him.  and  among  other  things  stated  that 
he  had  for  years  retrained  fn^n  using  c(jmmodities  made 
by  slave  labor. 

The  conservative  wing  oi  the  Society  was  opposed 
to  Friends  becoming  identified  with  any  organization  for 
anv  purpose  outside  oi  the  Society.  George  F.  White 
attacked  temperance  organizations,  as  he  did  abolition  socie- 
ties. 

It  was  a  common  inference,  if  not  a  claim,  of  the  Garri- 
sonian  abolitionists,  that  there  were  no  real  anti-slavery 
men  outside  of  their  organization.  In  Fifth  month.  1840, 
there  was  a  debate  involving  the  abolition  attitude  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  in  the  town  of  Lynn.  Alassachusetts.  In 
this  debate  William  Lloyd  Garrison  said  of  the  Society:  "If 
it  were  an  abolition  society,  its  efforts  would  be  identified 
with  ours."  ^ 


The   "Liberator,"   M^iy    i,    1H41,  p.  3, 


88  IJFK  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

In  the  same  debate  Oliver  Johnson  disputed  the  aboH- 
tinii  claims  of  the  Society  of  l^^-iends,  saying- :  "They  have 
asserted  for  themselves  the  claim  of  lieing-  an  abolition  so- 
cietv.  But  we  ne\er  could  get  into  their  meeting"  house."  * 
Thus  was  the  test  of  abolitionism  made  to  hint^e  upon  hous- 
mi;-  the  Abolition  Society. 

That  the  attitude  of  tlic  conservatives  was  ill-advised 
and  reprehensible  may  be  true.  It  is  also  true  that  this 
bodv  of  Friends  were  not  in  favor  t^f  any  ettort  to  over- 
throw slavery  by  popular  agitation.  They  held  that  all  other 
Christians  should  do  what  h'riends  had  done,  cease  to  hold 
slaves,  and  that  would  settle  the  whole  question.  However 
shortsighted  this  attitude  may  have  been,  very  few.  if  any. 
of  the  F'riends  liolding  it.  believed  in  holding  black  men 
in  bondage.  In  fact  it  is  pretty  safe  to  assert  that  at  no 
time  after  the  Society  had  freed  itself  from  direct  com- 
l)licitv  with  slaverv  was  there  any  considerable  number  of 
strictlv  pro-slavery  Friends  in  this  country. 

In  the  disowmnents  in  the  Society  growing  out  of  tlie 
slaxerv  cc^ntroversy  there  was  never  a  direct  charge  of  aboli- 
tionism brought  against  the  accused.  In  Kennett  Monthly 
Meeting  in  Chester  County.  Pa.,  where  in  about  se\en  \ears 
thirtv-four  Friends  were  disowned,  the  charge  was  that  the 
persons  had  "associated  with  others  in  forming,  sustaining 
and  supporting  a  professedly  religious  organization-'  dis- 
tinct from  and  not  owned  by  f^'riends,  and  have  whojl}-  de- 
clined attending  our  religious  meetings."" 

Of  course,  it  is  true  that  the  h^Mends  who  took  part 
in  the  Progressive  Friends*  movement  were  ()robably  led  to 


*The  "Liberator."  ^L^y   t.   1841,  p.  3. 

'The   "Progressive  Friends." 

'Records  of  Kennett   Alonthly   Meeting,   First  nimitli  6,    1857. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  8y 

do  SO  because  the  way  did  not  open  for  tlieiii  to  he  aggres- 
sively anti-slavery  in  the  parent  meeting. 

The  colonization  scheme,  that  is  a  plan  to  colonize 
emancipated  negroes  either  in  Africa,  or  in  Mavti.  or  else- 
where, was  prominently  urged  during  the  time  of  Elias 
Hicks.  Benjamin  Lundy  had  a  plan  of  this  cliaracter  which 
he  attempted  to  make  practical.  Evan  Lewis.'  of  New 
York,  in  1820,  was  interested  in  an  etfort  of  tliis  sort,  and 
sought  the  advice  of  Elias  Hicks  in  the  matter. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  tind  any  reply  to  this  par- 
ticular letter,  and  are  thus  not  warranted  in  saying  whether 
Elias  Hicks  sympathized  with  such  a  scheme  or  not. 

The  attitude  of  Elias  Hicks  on  the  slaver)-  (piestion  is 
only  minutely  referred  to  in  his  Journal.  His  private  corre- 
spondence gives  his  feeling  and  conduct  in  the  case,  in  not 
a  few  instances.  Erom  his  general  disposition  one  would 
expect  to  hnd  his  objections  to  slavery  based  entirel)'  on 
moral  and  religious  grounds.  Still,  exidence  abounds  that 
he  had  also  considered  the  economic  ])hases  of  tlie  (piestion. 
as  note  the  following : 

"I  may  further  add  that  from  forty  years  of  observation 
that  in  all  cases  where  opportunity  has  opened  the  wav 
fairly  to  contrast  the  sid:)ject,  it  has  atTorded  indubitable 
evidence  to  my  mind,  that  free  labor  is  cheaper  and  more 
j)rofitable  than  that  d(^nc  by  slaves."  ' 

It  seems  to  ha\'e  been  laid  u|)on  him  to  ])resent  the 
claims  of  the  truth  as  he  saw  it.  in  slave-holding  communi- 
ties. He  makes  the  following  statement  touching  service  o\ 
this  kind  in  Virginia  : 

'T  have  passed  through  some  proving  seasons  since  I 

'  Evan  Lewis,  a  New  York  Friend  and  business  man.  He  corre- 
sponded with  King  Henry,  of  San  Domingo.  Was  a  warm  friend  of 
Elias  Hicks,  and  after  the  "separation"  wrote  a  pamphlet  in  defense 
of    Elias. 

*  From  letter  written  tn  James  Cropper,  of  England,  dated  Balti- 
more.  Eleventh   month   j,    i8_'J.  i:: 


90  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

left  Baltimore,  in  meetings  where  many  negro  masters  at- 
tended, some  of  whom  held  fifty,  some  an  hundred,  and 
some  it  was  thought  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  these  poor 
l^eople  in  slavery.  Was  led  to  treat  on  the  subject  in  divers 
meetings,  in  such  a  manner  and  so  fully  to  expose  the 
iniquity  and  unrighteousness  thereof,  that  some  who  had 
stouted "  it  out  hitherto  against  all  conviction,  were  much 
humbled  and  brought  to  a  state  of  contrition,  and  not  one 
individual  had  power  to  make  any  opposition.  lUit  truth 
reigned  triumphantly  over  all,  t(^  the  rejoicing  of  many 
hearts."  '" 

Elias  Hicks  wrote  a  nunil)er  of  articles  on  the  slavery 
(luestion,  and  some  of  them  were  printed  and  publicly  cir- 
culated. A  letter  written  at  Manchester,  England,  Seventh 
month  5,  1 81 2.  by  Martha  Routh,  and  addressed  to  Elias 
Hicks,  says :  "I  have  not  fc^rgot  that  I  am  debtor  to  thee 
this  w^ay,  for  two  very  acceptable  and  instructive  epistles,  the 
latter  with  a  pamphlet  setting  forth  the  deep  exercise  of  thy 
mind,  and  endeavors  for  the  more  full  relief  of  our  fellow- 
brethren,  the  African  race."  This  letter  informs  Elias  that 
the  authc^r  sent  his  pamphlet  to  Thomas  Clarkson. 

Considerable  was  written  by  Elias  Hicks  on  the  slave 
trade,  some  of  it  existing  as  unpublished  niantiscript.  An 
article,  filling  fom-  closely  written  pages  oi  foolscap,  is 
among-  his  literary  effects.  A  very  long  letter  was  \A'ritten 
to  James  Croj^per.  of  England,  on  the  same  subject.  Both 
of  these  documents  were  written  while  the  slave-trade  l)ill 
was  pending-  in  the  Britisli  Parliament.  Elias  considered  the 
measure  entirely  inadequate,  holding  that  the  domestic  pro- 
duction of  sla\"es  was  as  inhuman  and  abhorrent,  if  not  more 
so,  as  their  importation .  from  Africa.  In  the  letter  to 
Cropper  this  strong  statement  is  found  :  "Tt  ought  ever  to 


"  "Stouted"  seems  to  have  been  a   favorite  word  with   Elias.     He 
habitually    uses    it    as    represv.-ntiiig    an    aggravated    resistance    to    the 

iruth. 

'"  l""rom    letter   wriuen    to   his    wife    from    .Mexandria.    \'a..    Third 
month    15,  1798. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELL-VS  HICKS  91 

he  remembered  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  necessary  and 
essential  duties  both  towards  ( iod  and  man.  for  in(h\idnals 
and  nations  to  exert  all  the  power  and  influence  they  are 
])ossessed  of.  in  every  rit>hteous  and  consistent  way,  to  jiut 
an  entire  stop  to  all  oppression,  robbery  and  mm-der  without 
partiality,  as  it  respects  nations  or  indi\iduals." 

Many  times,  in  his  i)ublished  sermons,  h'lias  flicks  dealt 
with  the  ini(|uity  of  sla\'ery.  Without  doubt  he  expressed 
himself  in  like  manner  in  sermons  preached  before  interest 
in  the  man  and  his  utterances  caused  his  sermons  to  be 
stenographically  reported  and  published. 

"Oh  !  that  our  eyes  might  be  opened,  to  see  more  deeply 
into  the  mystery  of  iniquity  and  godliness;  that  we  might 
become  con\'ersant  in  godliness  and  so  reject  ini(piity.  l"or 
all  this  wicked  oppression  c^f  the  African  race  is  of  the 
mystery  ()f  iniquity.  The  man  of  sin  and  son  of  perdition 
does  these  works,  and  nothing  else  does  them.  Justice  is 
fallen  in  the  streets,  and  in  the  councils  of  the  nation.  How 
nuich  justice  there  is;  for  they  have  it  in  their  power  to  do 
justice  to  these  poor  oppressed  creatures,  but  they  are  wait- 
ing till   all   their  selfish   notions  are  gratified."  " 

Elias  Hicks  was  as  strongly  (^i)posed  to  the  lines  (jf 
interest  and  economic  conduct  which  indirectly  supported 
slavery  as  he  was  to  the  institution  itself.     We  (piote  : 

"And  for  want  of  a  sight  of  this  oppression,  how  manv 
there  are  who.  though  they  seem  not  wdlling  to  put  their 
hands  upon  a  fellow  creature  to  bind  him  in  chains  of  bond- 
age, yet  they  will  do  everything  to  help  alons:  by  purchasing 
the  labor  of  those  poor  creatures,  which  is  like  eating  flesh 
and  drinking  blood  of  our  poor  fellow-creatures.  Is  it  like 
cf^ming  home  to  justice?  For  the  thief  and  oppressor  are 
)ust  alike;  the  one  is  as  bad  as  the  other."'" 


"  From  sermon  preached  at  Xcwtown,  Pa..  Twolftli  montii  iiS, 
1826.     The  "Quaker,"  Vol.  4,  p.    183. 

'"From  sermon  preached  at  Abington,  Pa.,  Twelfth  month  15. 
1826.     The  "Quaker,"  Vol.  4,  p.  155.        • 


92  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

In  tlcalinj;  with  slavery  and  slaveliolders.  his  language 
often  bordered  on  what  would  now  be  called  bitterness. 
Here  is  a  case  in  point : 

"Can  slaveholders,  mercenaries  and  hirelings,  who  look 
lor  their  i>-ain  from  this  quarter,  can  they  promote  the  re- 
ligion of  Jesus  Christ?  No,  they  are  the  cause  of  its  re- 
proach, for  they  are  the  cause  of  making  unbelievers."'"* 

His  concern  touching  slavery  Avas  largely  based  on  con- 
siderations of  justice,  and  regard  for  the  opportunity  which 
he  believed  ought  to  be  the  right  of  all  men.  In  one  of  his 
sermons  he  said : 

"Thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  have  been  forbidden 
the  enjoyment  of  every  good  thing  on  earth,  even  of  common 
school-learning;  and  must  it  still  be  so?  God  forbid  it. 
Hut  this  would  be  a  trifle,  if  they  had  the  privilege  of 
rational  beings  on  the  earth  ;  that  liberty  which  is  the  great- 
est of  all  blessings — the  exercise  of  free  agency.  And  here 
we  are  glutting  ourselves  with  the  toils  of  their  labor !  .  .  . 
Rut  this  noble  testimony,  of  refusing  to  partake  of  the  spoils 
of  oppression,  lies  with  the  dearly  beloved  young  people  of 
this  day.  \\'e  can  look  for  but  little  from  the  aged,  who  have 
been  accustomed  to  these  things." 


In  the  sermrin  "just  referred  to,"  we  find  the  follow- 


mo- 


"We  are  on  a  level  with  all  the  rest  of  (jod's  creatures. 
We  are  not  l^etter  for  being  white  than  others  for  being 
black ;  and  we  have  no  more  right  to  oppress  the  blacks 
because  they  are  black  than  they  have  to  oppress  us  be- 
cause we  are  white.  Therefore,  every  one  who  oppresses 
his  colored  brother  or  sister  is  a  tyrant  upon  the  earth ;  and 
every  one  who  strentrthens  the  hand  of  an  oppressor  is  a 
tyrant  upon  earth.     They  have  turned  from  God,  and  have 


■  A   series  i>t   exlemporaneou-   discmirses  1);^  FJias  Hicks.     Joseph 
.'111(1  Edward  I'arker.  p.  24. 

-  I-Voin   scrnnni  preached  in   Pliiladelpliia,  Twelttli   motuli   i,   1824. 
Farker'.s  "Di.scourses  by  Eli'as  tiicks,"  p.  6o-6t. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS  93 

not  that  powerful  love,  which  does  away  all  distinction  and 
jirejudice  of  education,  and  sets  upon  equal  grounds  all 
those   that   have   equal    rights."  "^ 

Of  the  "essays"  on  the  slavery  (|uestion  written  by 
Elias  Hicks,  one  has  survixed,  and  is  bound  in  the  volume, 
"Letters  of  Elias  Hicks.*"  The  pani[)hlet  in  question,  though 
small,  like  many  "ancient"  productions,  had  a  very  large 
title,  viz. :  "Observations  on  the  Slavery  of  the  Africans 
and  Their  Descendants,  and  the  Use  of  the  Produce  of  Their 
Labor."  "'  It  was  originally  published  in  181 1,  having  been 
approved  by  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  of  New  York 
Yearly  Meeting.  Nearly  half  of  the  "essay"  is  made  up  of 
a  series  of  questions  and  answers.  When  printed  it  made 
six  leaves  the  size  of  this  page.  On  the  subject  of  the 
product  of  slave  labor,  decided  ground  w^as  taken,  the  claim 
being  that  all  such  produce  was  "prize  goods."  The  reason 
tor  this  claim  was  that  the  slaves  originally  were  captives, 
practically  the  \'ictims  of  a  war  of  capture  if  not  conquest. 
Among  other  things  the  essay  argues  the  rightfulness  and 
justice  of  any  State  to  pass  laws  abolishing  slavery  within 
its  borders. 

While  the  argumenls  presented  in  this  document  are  of 
general  value,  it  is  proljable  that  the  pamphlet  was  in  the 
main  intended  for  circulation  among  Friends,  with  a  view 
t(0  stimulating  them  to  such  acti<^n  as  would  forward  the 
cause  of  freedom.  1liis  essay  1)y  Elias  Hicks  antedated  by 
hve  years  the  address  by  Benjamin  Eundy.  already  referred 
to,  and  was  ]jr<)bal>ly  one  of  the  first  publications  in  the 
nineteenth  centur}-  actuall}'  adx'ocating  the  abolition  of 
slavery. 

In  stud\ing  tlie  slax'cry  question  it  is  necessary  to  re- 

''Tlie  same,  p.  79. 

'"■'Letters  of  Elias   Micks."  p.  9. 


94  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

incnil)er  that  before  the  imeiition  of  the  cntt(Mi  *;in.  about 
1793,  a  considerable  bitt  unorganized  and  ineli'ective  anti- 
slavery  sentiment  existed  in  the  country.  But  after  that 
invention,  Avhich  rendered  slave  labor  very  remunerative, 
sentiment  of  this  sort  subsided  so  that  the  Friends,  who,  like 
Elias  Hicks,  advocated  abolition  during  the  first  (|uarter  of 
the  nineteenth  century,  Avere  really  pioneers  in  the  attempt 
which  resulted  in  the  freedom  of  a  race. 

At  one  time  church  organizations,  even  in  the  South. 
especially  the  Baptists,  passed  res(^lutions  favorable  to  the 
abolition  of  slavery.  Churches  North  and  South  in  the 
decade  between  1780  and  1790  were  well  abreast  of  Friends 
in  this  particular.  Touching  this  matter  Horace  Greeley 
remarked  :  "But  no  similar  declaration  has  been  made  by 
any  Southern  Ba])tist  C(Mi\ention  since  held-hands  rose  to 
$1,000  each,  and  black  infants  at  l)irth  were  accounted  worth 
$100."  '' 

We  could  make  co])ious  extracts  from  the  anti-sla\'ery 
utterances  of  F.lias  Hicks,  but  our  ol)ject  is  simply  to  gi\'e 
the  scope  of  his  thinking  and  ])urpose  in  regard  to  this 
matter.  b'ew  men  at  certain  |)oints  were  more  altruistic 
than  he,  and  as  an  altruist  he  ccmld  not  do  other  than  oppose 
the  great  social  and  economic  iniquity  of  his  time.  h^-(^m  his 
standpoint  slavery  was  utterly  and  irretrievably  bad,  and  to 
bear  testimony  constant  and  consistent  against  it  was  i)art 
of  the  high  calling  of  the  Christian. 

■' "Tlio   AiiKrio.iii   CoiitHct,"  l)y   lloriicc  CircL-loy,   \'(il.   1     p.    ijo. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Various  Opinions. 

Elias  Hicks  had  very  definite  ideas  on  a  great  many 
subjects.  While  in  many  respects  he  was  in  advance  of  his 
time,  at  other  points  he  was  conservative.  At  any  rate  he 
was  not  in  unity  with  some  of  the  prevalent  social  and 
economic  arrangements.  On  the  (luestion  of  i)roperty  he 
entertained  some  startling  convictions.  Just  how  much 
public  expression  he  gave  to  these  views  may  not  be  posi- 
tively determined.  That  he  believed  that  there  were  grave 
spiritual  dangers  involved  in  getting  and  holding  great 
wealth,  is  abundantly  attested  in  his  pul)lic  utterances,  but 
we  must  look  to  his  private  correspondence  for  some  of  his 
advanced  views  on  the  property  question. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  "Dear  Alsop,"  dated  Jericho, 
l^^ifth  month  14,  1826,  he  deals  quite  definitely  with  the 
matter  of  property.  After  claiming  that  the  early  Christians 
wandered  from  the  pure  gospel  of  Jesus  after  they  ceased 
to  rely  on  the  inward  teacher,  he  makes  a  declaration  on  the 
subject  as  follows : 

"lUu  did  we  all  as  individuals  take  the  spirit  of  truth, 
or  light  within,  as  our  only  rule  and  guide  in  all  things,  we 
should  all  then  be  willing,  and  thereby  enabled,  to  do  justly, 
love  mercy,  and  walk  huml)ly  with  God.  Then  we  should 
hold  all  things  in  common,  and  call  nothing  our  own,  but 
consider  all  our  blessings  as  only  lent  to  us,  to  be  used  and 
distributed  h\  us  in  such  manner  and  way  as  his  holy  spirit, 
or  this  inward  teacher,  may  from  time  to  time  direct.  Hence 
we  should  be  made  all  equal,  accountable  to  none  but  God 
alone,  for  the  right  use  or  the  abuse  of  his  blessings.  Then 
all  mankind  would  be  but  one  community,  have  but  one 
head,  l^ut  one  father,  and  the  saying  of  Jesus  would  be  veri- 

95 


g6  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS 

tied.  W  c  should  no  longer  call  any  man  master,  for  one 
only  has  a  right  to  be  our  Master,  even  God,  and  all  man- 
kind become  brethren.  This  is  the  kind  of  community  that 
1  have  been  labouring  for  more  than  forty  years  to  introduce 
mankind  into,  that  so  we  might  all  have  but  one  head,  and 
one  instructor  and  he  (God)  come  to  rule  whose  only  right 
it  is.  and  which  would  always  have  been  the  case,  had  not 
man  rebelled  against  his  maker,  and  disobeyed  his  salutary- 
instruction  and  commands." 

Touching'  the  "cares  and  deceitfulness  of  riches,"  he 
liad  much  to  say.  He  tells  us  that  on  a  certain  day  he 
attended  the  meeting'  of  ministers  and  elders  in  W'estbury, 
and  sat  through  it  "under  great  depression  and  poverty  of 
spirit."  There  was  evidently  some  confession  and  not  a 
little  complaining,  as  there  is  now,  regarding  the  possessi(^n 
and  exercise  of  spiritual  gifts  on  the  part  of  Friends.  But 
Elias  affirmed  that  the  "cloud"  o\er  the  meeting  was  not 
"in  consecpience  of  a  deficiency  of  ministers,  a?  it  respects 
their  ministerial  gifts,  nor  fnjm  a  want  of  care  in  elders  in 
watching  over  them :  but  from  a  much  more  deep  anrl  melan- 
cholv  cause,  viz.:  the  love  and  cares  of  this  world  and  the 
deceitfulness  of  riches;  which,  springing  u])  and  gaining  the 
ascendenc^■  in  the  mind,  choke  the  good  seed  like  the  briars 
and  thorns,  and  renrler  it  fruitless;  and  ])ro(luce  such  great 
deartli  and  barrenness  in  our  meetings."  ' 

Elias  Hicks  api)arently  beliexed  that  labor  had  in  itself 
a  vital  si)iritual  quality.  In  fact  he  held  that  the  famous 
injmicti(Mi  in  Genesis  "In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  th(^u 
eat  bread"  "was  not  a  ])enalt\'.  but  it  was  a  di\'ine  counsel — 
a  counsel  of  perfect  wisdom  and  i)erfect  love."  "  It  was  his 
opinion  that  all  oppression,  slavery  and  injustice,  had  their 
origin  in  the  disposition  of  men  to  shirk  the  obligation  to 

'  Jcnirnal  of    l'"Jias   Hicks,  p.  233. 

"Sermon  proaclied  at  Abingtoti,  Pa.,  Twelfth  month  15,  1826 
Tlic  "Qrakcr."   p.    155. 


CHILDREN  or    ELIAS  HICKS 

Valentine    Hicks   (Son-in-Law)  Abigail    Hicks 

Martha   Aldrich  Elizabeth    Hicks 


t.TFR  AND   l.ABORS  OF  El. IAS  HICKS  g; 

labor,   thus   [)lacini;-   burdens   on    their    tcnows,    which    they 
slioukl  bear  themselves. 

Every  exhortation  toncliin^'  labor  he  relii^iously  fol- 
lowed himself.  He  records  that  at  the  a^e  of  sixty  he 
labored  hard  in  his  harvest  held,  and  remarks  with  evident 
])ri(le  and  satisfaction  as  follows  : 

"1  found  1  could  wield  the  scythe  nearly  as  in  the  day.^ 
of  my  youth.  It  was  a  day  of  thankful  ancl  delis^htful  con- 
templation. My  heart  was  filled  with  thankfulness  and 
gratitude  to  the  blessed  Author  of  my  existence,  in  a  con- 
sideration of  his  providential  care  over  me.  in  preserving'  me 
ill  health,  and  in  the  possession  of  my  bodily  powers,  the 
exercise  of  which  were  still  affordini^-  me  both  profit  and 
delig^ht ;  and  I  was  doubly  thankful  for  the  continued 
exercise  of  my  mental  faculties,  not  only  in  instructing  me 
how  to  exert  and  riohtly  employ  my  bodily  powers,  in  the 
most  useful  and  advantageous  manner,  but  also  in  con- 
templating the  works  of  nature  and  Providence,  in  the 
blessings  and  beauties  of  the  field — a  vohmie  containing 
jnore  delightful  and  profitable  instructtion  than  all  the 
volumes  of  mere  learning  and  science  in  the  world. 

■'What  a  vast  porti(^n  of  the  joys  and  comforts  of  life 
do  the  idle  and  slothful  deprive  themselves  of,  by  running 
into  cities  and  towns,  to  avoid  labouring  in  the  field  ;  not 
considering  that  this  is  one  of  the  principal  sources  that  the 
graciijus  Creator  of  the  universe  has  appointed  to  his 
creature,  man.  from  whence  he  may  derive  great  temporal 
happiness  and  delight.  It  also  opens  the  largest  and  best 
field  of  exercise  to  the  contemplative  mind,  by  which  it  may 
be  prepared  to  meet,  when  this  mortal  puts  on  immortalit}-, 
those  immortal  joys  that  will  ever  be  the  lot  of  the  faithful 
and  industrious."  ^ 

Tt  will  probably  be  disj)nted  in  our  time,  that  those 
who  labor  and  attempt  to  live  in  cities  enjoy  lives  of  greater 
case  than  those  who  till  the  soil. 

While  Elias  recognized  the  obligation  to  labor,  and 
beliexed  it   was  a  blessed  privilege,  he  had   learned   in  the 

'Journal   of   Elias  Hicks,  p.    185.  i.^ 


98  I^IFK  AND   LABORS  OF  P:L1AS  HICKS 

school    of    experience    that    an    over-worked    hody    and    an 
over-worried  mind  tended  to  spiritual  i)overty.     We  quote: 

"The  rest  of  this  week  was  spent  in  my  ordinary 
vocations.  My  farming  business  was  very  pressing,  and  it 
being  difficult  to  procure  suitable  assistance,  my  mind  was 
overburdened  with  care,  wdiich  seldom  fails  of  producing 
leanness  of  sjjirit  in  a  lesser  or  greater  degree."  ^ 

As  offset  to  this  we  quoie  the  following: 

"\\'hal  a  favor  it  is  for  such  an  active  creature  as  man. 
possessed  of  such  powers  of  body  and  mind,  always  to  have 
some  employment,  and  something  for  those  powers  to  act 
upon ,-  for  otherwise  they  would  be  useless  and  dormant, 
and  afford  neither  profit  nor  delight."  ^ 

The  building-  of  railroads  in  this  country  had  fairly  be- 
gun when  Elias  Hicks  passed  away  in  1830.  Projects  had 
been  under  w'av  for  some  time,  and  certain  Friends  in  Balti- 
more, then  the  center  of  railroad  activity,  had  become  inter- 
ested in  the  enterprise.  In  a  letter  to  Deborah  and  James 
P.  Stabler,"  written  in  Xew  York,  Sixth  month  28,  1829, 
Elias  expresses  himself  quite  freely  regarding  the  matter. 
He  says:  "It  was  a  cause  of  sorrow  rather  than  joy  when 
last  in  Baltimore  to  hnd  my  dear  friend  P.  E.  Thomas'  so 

*  Journal,   p.    151. 

'■Journal,  p.    184. 

"Deborah  Stabler  was  the  widow  of  Dr.  William  Stai)ler.  ihc 
latter  being  a  brother  of  Edward  Stabler,  of  .Alexandria,  the  well- 
known  preacher,  and  close  friend  of  Elias  Hicks.  Deborah  was  a  re- 
corded minister.  James  P.  was  her  son.  He  was  chief  engineer  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Susquehanna  Railroad  in  its  early  construction,  and 
was  the  tirst  general  superintendent  and  chief  engineer  of  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio,  and  built  part  of  the  line  from  Baltimore  to  Frederick. 
He  was  the  author  of  a  small  pamphlet  entitled,  "The  Certain  Evidences 
of  Practical  Religion,"  published  in  1884.  He  resided  at  Sandy  Spring, 
Md. 

'  Philip  E.  Thomas,  for  many  years  sat  at  the  head  of  the  Balti- 
more meeting.  He  was  the  son  of  Evan  Thomas,  of  Sandy  Spring, 
who  was  a  recorded  minister.     Philip   E.  was  an   importing  hardware 


LIFK  AND   LABORS  OF  EIJAS  HTt'KS  99 

fully  engaged  in  that  troublesome  business  of  the  railroad." 
as  I  consider  his  calling  to  be  of  a  more  noble  and  exalted 
nature  than  to  enlist  in  such  low  and  groveling  concerns. 
i*\)r  it  is  a  great  truth  that  no  man  can  serve  two  masters, 
tor  he  will  either  love  the  one,  and  hate  the  other,  or  h(~)l(l 
to  the  one.  and  despise  the  other.  Ye  cannot  serve  God  and 
mammon.  The  railroad  in  this  case  I  consider  mammon." 
The  ftillowing  is  an  extract  from  the  same  letter: 

'Tt  afforded  me  very  pleasing  sensations  to  be  in- 
formed of  dear  James'  improvement  in  health,  but  it  excited 
some  dift'erent  feeling  when  informed  that  he  had  taken  the 
|)Iace  of  Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  railroad  company, 
a  business  I  conceive  that  principally  belongs  to  the  men 
of  this  world,  but  not  to  the  children  of  light,  whose  king- 
dom is  not  of  this  world  :  for  when  we  consider  that  there 
are  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  who  are  voluntarily 
enlisted  in  works  that  relate  to  the  accommodation  of  flesh 
and  blood  which  can  never  inherit  the  kingd(Mn  of  heaven." 

The  objection  to  railroads  is  one  of  th<)se  unaccount- 
able but  interesting  contradictions  which  appear  in  the  lives 
of  some  progressi\'e  men.  By  a  sort  of  irony  of  fate,  Valen- 
tine Hicks,  the  son-in-law  of  Elias.  a  few  vears  after  the 
death  of  the  latter,  became  very  much  interested  in  the 
railroad  business.  The  charter  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad 
Company  was  granted  Fourth  month  24,  1834.  In  this 
document  Valentine  Hicks  was  named  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners  to   secure   the   capital    stock,    and    appoint    the    first 


merchant,  a  most  successful  business  man.  and  tlie  first  president  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.  Tn  the  construction  and  operation 
of  that  line  of  railroad,  he  was  associated  with  the  leading  business 
men  of  Baltimore.  He  was  for  many  years  an  elder  of  Baltimore 
meeting. 

"  The  railroad  thus  referred  to  by  Elias  Hicks  was  undoubtedly 
the  section  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  which  ran  from  Baltimore  to 
Kllicott's  Mills,  a  distance  of  15  miles.  It  was  begun  in  1828,  and  opened 
in  F"ifth  month,  1830.  Horses  were  at  first  used  as  motive  power. 
This    was   the   tirst    railmad   built    in    the    United    States. 


loa  LIFK  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

Board  of  Directors.  While  not  the  first  president  of  that 
company,  he  was  elected  president  Sixth  month  7,  1837, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  until  Fifth  month  21,  1838. 

Elias  Hicks  at  points  anticipated  the  present  theory  of 
suggestion  touching  hodily  ailment,  if  he  did  not  forestall 
some  of  the  ideas  regarding  mental  healing,  and  Christian 
Science.  Writing  to  his  son-in-law,  Valentine  Hicks,  from 
Kaston,  Pa.,  Eighth  month  15,  18 19,  he  thus  expressed 
himself : 

"And  indeed,  in  a  strict  sense,  the  mind  or  immortal 
spirit  of  man  cannot  be  affected  with  disease  or  sickness, 
being  endued  with  immortal  powers ;  therefore  all  its 
apparent  weakness  lies  in  mere  imagination,  giving  the 
mind  a  wrong  bia.s  and  a  wrong  direction,  but  it  loses  more 
of  its  real  strength,  as  to  acting  and  doing.  For  instance, 
if  at  any  time  it  admits  those  false  surmises  and  imagina- 
tions, and  by  them  is  led  to  believe  that  its  outward  taber- 
nacle is  out  of  health  and  drawing  towards  a  dissolution, 
and  not  being  ready  and  willing  to  part  with  it,  although 
little  or  nothing  may  l)e  the  disorder  of  the  bod}*,  yet  so 
])owerfully  strong  is  the  mind  under  the  influence  of  these 
wrong  surmises  that  there  seems  at  times  to  be  no  power 
in  heaven  or  earth  sufficient  to  arrest  its  progress,  or  stop 
its  career,  until  it  brings  on  actual  disease,  and  death  to 
the  body,  which,  however,  had  its  beginning  principally  in 
mere  imagination  and  surmise.  Hence  we  see  the  absolute 
necessity  of  thinking  less  about  our  mere  bodily  health,  and 
much  luore  about  the  nfind,  for  if  the  mind  is  kept  in  a  line 
of  right  direction,  as  it  is  that  in  which  all  its  right  health 
and  strength  consisteth,  we  need  not  fear  any  suffering  to 
the  body.  For,  if  while  the  mind  is  under  right  direction, 
the  body  is  permitted  to  fall  under  or  into  a  state  of  afflic- 
tion or  disease,  and  the  mind  is  kept  in  a  state '  of  due 
arrangement,  it  will  prove  a  blessing  and  be  sanctified  to 
us  as  such,  and  in  which  we  shall  learn  by  certain  experience 
that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  those  whose  minds 
are  preserved  under  the  regulating  influence  of  the  love  of 
(lod,  which  love  casteth  out  all  fear." 

Elias  Hicks  was  a  firm  o|)ponent  of  the  public  school 
svstem,  and  es[)eciall}"  the  law  which  supported  such  scIk^oIs 


LIFK  AND   LABOKS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  loi 

by  general  taxation.  His  views  regarding  this  matter  are 
(|uite  fnlly  stated  in  a  letter  written  Fifth  month  24,  1820. 
Jt  was  written  to  Sylvanus  Smith,  and  answered  certain  in- 
quiries which  had  evidently  been  directed  to  Elias  by  this 
l^'^riend.  His  ol)jection  to  pul)lic  schools,  however,  was  partly 
l)ased  on  what  he  considered  moral  and  religious  grounds. 
He  said  he  had  refrained  from  sending  his  children  to  any 
schools  which  were  not  under  the  immediate  care  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Observation,  he  said,  lead  him  to  be- 
lieve that  his  "children  would  receixe  more  harm  than  good 
by  attending  schools  taught  by  persons  of  no  religious  prin- 
ciples, and  among  children  whose  parents  were  of  different 
sects,  and  many  very  Ic^ose  and  unconcerned  and  vulgar  in 
their  li\-es  and  conduct."  He  also  assumed  that  in  the  public 
schools  his  children  would  be  demoralized  "by  the  vicious 
conduct  of  many  of  the  children,  and  sometimes  even  the 
teachers,  which  would  ])e  \ery  degrading  to  their  morals, 
and  wounding  to  their  tender  minds."  From  his  standpoint 
h'riends  could  not  consistently  "take  any  part  in  those  dis- 
trict schools,  nor  recei\-e  any  part  of  the  bounty  given  by 
the  legislature  of  the  state  for  their  use." 

Touching  the  ([uestion  of  parental  authority  and  indi- 
\'idual  freedom,  Elias  Hicks  also  had  opinions  prejudicial 
to  the  public  schools.     In  the  letter  under  review  he  said: 

"Believing  the  law  that  has  estalDlished  them  to  be 
arbitrary  and  inconsistent  with  the  liberty  of  conscience 
guaranteed  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and 
derogatory  to  right  parental  authority;  as  no  doubt  it  is  the 
right  and  duty  of  every  parent  to  bring  up  and  educate  his 
children  in  that  way  he  thinks  is  right,  independent  of  the 
control  of  any  authority  under  heaven  (so  long  as  he  keeps 
them  within  the  bounds  of  civil  order).  As  the  bringing 
up  and  right  education  of  our  children  is  a  religious  duty, 
and  for  which  we  are  acc(^untable  to  none  but  God  only, 
therefore  for  the  magistrate  to  interfere  therewith  by 
coercive  means  is  an  infringement  upon  the  divine  pre- 
roL^ative." 


102  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELI  AS  HICKS 

The  <ibser\aiice  of  'riianksoi\int>-  Day.  outside  of  New 
England,  had  not  become  a  common  thing  in  the  time  ot 
l^has  Hicks.  Evidently  about  1825,  the  Governor  of  Xew 
^'ork  issued  a  Thanksgiving  Proclamation,  which  caused 
Elias  to  write  an  article.  It  was  addressed  to  The  Christian 
Inquirer''  and  bore  heavily  against  the  whole  thanksgiving 
scheme,  especially  wdien  supported  by  the  ci\il  government. 
In  his  opinion  wherever  the  magistrate  recommended  an  ob- 
servance of  llianksgi\ing  Day.  he  was  simply  pla\-ing  into 
the  hands  of  the  ecclesiastical  power.     We  quote : 

"Therefore  the  Governor's  recommendation  carries  the 
same  coercion  and  force  in  it,  to  every  citizen,  as  the  rec- 
ommendation of  the  Episcopal  Bishop  would  to  the  mem- 
bers of  his  own  church.  In  this  \-iew  we  have  the  reason 
wdiy  the  clergymen  in  our  state  call  upon  the  civil  magis- 
trate to  recommend  one  of  their  superstitious  ceremonies. 
It  is  in  order  to  coerce  the  citizens  at  large  to  a  compliance 
with  their  dogmas,  and  little  by  little  inure  them  to  the 
voke  of  ecclesiastical  domination.  I  therefore  conceixe 
there  is  scarcely  a  subject  that  comes  under  our  notice  that 
lies  more  justly  (ipen  to  rebuke  and  ridicule  than  the 
thanksgiving  days  and  fast  days  that  are  observed  in  our 
country,  for  there  is  nothing  to  l)e  found  in  the  writings  of 
the  New  Testament  to  warrant  such  formalit\-  and  super- 
stition, and  I  full}'  ]>elieve  in  the  way  they  are  c<inducted 
they  are  altogether  an  abomination  in  the  sight  of  the 
Lord,  and  tend  more  abundantly  to  bring  a  curse  u])on  our 
nation  than  a  blessing,  as  they  toc>  often  end  with  many 
in  festivitv  and  drunkenness." 

in  closing  his  communication  h^lias  says  that  in  issuing 
his  proclamation  the  Governor  was  simply  "doing  a  piece 
of  drudgerv"  for  the  clergy.  1'he  folknving,  being  the  last 
paragraph   in   the  communication   referred  to,   sounds  Ncry 


"  The  Christian  Inquirer  was  a  weekly  newsi)ai)er  in  Xew  York. 
sUirtcfl  in  1824.  It  was  of  pronounced  lil)eral  tendencies.  A  good  deal 
of  its  space  was  devoted  to  Friends,  especially  during  the  "separation" 
peric>d. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  .  103 

niiicli    like    the    statements    put    forward    by    the    extreme 
secularists  in  our  own  time: 

"And  has  he  not  by  rectjnimending  a  religions  act 
united  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  authorities,  and  broken 
ilie  line  of  ])artition  between  them,  so  wisely  established 
l)y  our  enlightened  Constitution,  wdiich  in  the  most  positive 
terms  forl)ids  any  alliance  between  church  and  state,  and 
is  the  only  barrier  for  the  support  of  our  liberty  and  inde- 
])endence.  For  if  that  is  broken  down  all  is  lost,  and  we 
become  the  vassals  of  priestcraft,  and  designing  men,  who 
are  reaching  after  power  by  every  subtle  contrivance  to 
domineer  o\-er  the  consciences  of  their  fellow  citizens." 

It  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  Elias  Hicks  was  opposed 
to  Free  Masonry.  On  this  subject  he  expressed  himself 
vigorously.  This  opposition  was  based  upon  the  secret  char- 
acter of  the  oath,  and  especially  a  solemn  pronn'se  not  to 
divulge  the  "secrets  of  A[as()nr\-,  before  he  knows  what  the 
secrets  are." 

The  anti-masonic  movement,  l)eing  the  outcome  of  the 
mysterious  disappearance  of  William  \b)rgan  from  Batavia, 
New  York,  was  at  its  height  during  the  last  years  of  Elias 
Hicks.  It  was  claimed  that  Morgan  was  probably  murdered 
because  of  a  book  published  by  him  in  1826,  exposing  the 
secrets  of  Masonry.  Some  of  the  rumors  connected  with 
this  disappearance  acc(^unt  for  statements  made  by  Elias 
Hicks  in  his  criticism  of  the  organization. 

Touching  the  matter  of  exclusiveness  on  the  part  of 
Friends,  Elias  Hicks  was  a  conservative  of  the  conserva- 
tives. To  keep  aloof  from  things  not  connected  with  the 
Society  he  considered  a  virtue  in  itself.  In  referring  to  a 
meeting  he  attended  in  (loshen.  Pa.,  he  said: 

"Had  to  caution  Friends  against  mixing  with  the  people 
in  their  human  policies,  and  outward  forms  of  government; 
showing  that,  in  all  ages,  those  who  were  called  to  be  the 
Lord's  people  had  been  ruined,  or  suffered  great  loss,  by 
such  associations ;  and  manifesting  clearly  by  Scripture  tes- 


I04  •  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  EIJAS  HICKS 

timony.  and  other  records,  that  our  strength  and  preserva- 
tion consisted  in  standing  alone,  and  not  to  be  counted 
among  the  people  or  nations,  who  were  setting  up  party,  and 
partial  interest,  one  against  another,  which  is  the  ground  of 
war  and  bloodshed.  These  are  actuated  by  the  spirit  of 
pride  and  wrath,  which  is  always  opposed  to  the  true  Chris- 
tian spirit,  which  breathes  'peace  on  earth,  and  good  will  to 
all  men.'  Those,  therefore,  who  are  in  the  true  Christian 
spirit  cannot  use  any  coercive  force  or  compulsion  by  any 
means  whatever;  not  being  overcome  with  evil,  but  over- 
coming evil  with  good."  ^" 

In  the  article  in  vvhicli  he  condenined  Masonry.  I^^lias 
Hicks  spoke  vigorously  in  criticism  of  the  camp  meetings 
held  by  some  of  the  churches.  He  called  them  "night 
revels."  and  considered  them  "a  very  great  nuisance  to  civil 
society."  He  thought  they  were  promoters  of  "licentious- 
ness, immorality  and  drunkenness."  and  were  more  or  less 
reproachful  to  the  Cliristian  name,  "giving  much  occasion 
for  infidels  to  scoff." 

While  at  Elizabeth,  in  Xew  Jersey.  Elias  wrote  a  let- 
ter 'Mo  a  young  man  named  Samuel  Cox.  It  seems  that  this 
pers(^n  contemplated  studying  for  the  ministr}- :  that  his 
grandmother  was  a  Friend,  and  Elias  labored  with  the 
grandson  on  her  account.  He  said  that  "human  stud)'  or 
human  science"  could  not  qualify  a  minister.  -In  fact  to 
supp(\se  such  a  thing  was  to  cast  "the  greatest  possible  in- 
dignity (^n  the  Divine  Being,  and  on  the  gospel  of  our  Lord 
lesus  Christ."  Of  course  it  was  asserted  that  nn'nistry  came 
only  by  the  power  of  the  Spirit,  anrl  much  Scripture  was 
(juoted  to  prove  it.  There  is  little  in  the  writings  of  Elias 
Hicks  to  show  that  he  considered  that  equipi)ing  the  natural 
powers  was  helpful  in  making  llie  .s])iritual  ins])iration 
effective. 

It   is  evident,  however,   that   P'dias  was  not   indifferent 

'"  Journal,   p.   76-77. 
"  Letter  was  datefl.   Fifth  month    12,   1813. 


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LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS  105 

to  his  own  intellectual  equipment.  He  was  fond  of  quot- 
ing from  books  the  things  which  fortified  his  own  position. 
The  following  shows  how  he  stored  his  mind  with  facts, 
from  wliich  he  drew  certain  conclusions: 

"Indisposition  of  body  prevented  my  attending  meet- 
ing. 1  therefore  spent  the  day  quietly  at  home,  and  in 
reading  a  portion  of  Mosheim's  Ecclesiastical  History  of 
the  Fifth  Century,  and  which  is  indeed  enough  to  astonish 
any  sensible,  considerate  man,  to  think  how  the  professors 
of  that  day  coidd  be  hardy  enough  to  call  themselves  Chris- 
tians, while  using  every  artifice  that  their  human  w^isdom 
could  invent  to  raise  themselves  to  power  and  opulence,  and 
endeavoring  to  crush  down  their  opposers  by  almost  every 
cruelty  that  power,  envy  and  malice  could  inflict,  to  the 
entire  scandal  of  the  Christian  name ;  and  changing  the  pure, 
meek,  merciful  and  undefiled  religion  of  Jesus  into  an  im-' 
pure,  unmerciful,  cruel,  bloody  and  persecuting  religion. 
For  each  of  those  varied  sects  of  professed  Christians,  in 
their  turn,  as  they  got  the  power  of  the  civil  magistrate  on 
their  side,  would  endeavor,  by  the  sword,  and  severe  edicts, 
followed  by  banishment,  to  reduce  and  destroy  all  those  who 
dissented  from  them,  although  their  opinions  were  not  a 
whit  more  friendly  to  real,  genuine  Christianity  than  the 
tenets  of  their  opposers ;  for  all  were,  in  great  measure,  if 
not  entirely,  adulterated  and  apostatized  from  the  true  spirit 
of  Christianity,  which  breathes  peace  on  earth,  and  good 
will  to  men."  '- 

Elias  Hicks  believed  that  there  was  a  sure  way  of 
'determining  conduct,  whether  it  was  from  "one's  own  will," 
or  whether  it  proceeded  from  the  divine  leading.  In  regard 
to  this  matter,  he  said : 

"But  the  great  error  of  the  generality  of  professed 
Christians  lies  in  not  making  a  right  distinction  between  the 
works  that  men  do  in  their  own  will,  and  by  the  leadings 
of  their  own  carnal  wisdom,  and  those  works  that  the  true 
believer  does,  in  the  will  and  wisdom  of  God.  For  although 
the  former,  let  them  consist  in  what  they  will,  whether  in 
prayers,  or  preaching,  or  any  other  devotional  exercises, 
are  altogether  evil ;  so  on  the  contrary  those  of  the  latter, 

''Journal,   p.    -'24.  14 


io6  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

let  them  consist  in  what  they  may,  whether  in  ploughing, 
in  reaping,  or  in  any  handicraft  labor,  or  in  any  other 
service,  temporal  or  spiritual,  as  they  will  in  all  be  accom- 
panied with  the  peace  and  presence  of  their  heavenly  Father, 
so  all  they  do  will  be  righteous,  and  will  be  imputed  to  them 
as  such."  ^'^ 

His  contention  regarding  this  matter  is  possibly  more 
clearly  stated  in  tlie  following  paragraph : 

"The  meeting  was  large,  wherein  I  had  to  expose  the 
danger  of  self-righteousness,  or  a  trust  in  natural  religion, 
or  mere  morality ;  showing  that  it  was  no  more  than  the 
religion  of  Atheists,  and  was  generally  the  product  of  pride 
and  self-will ;  and,  however  good  it  may  appear  to  the 
natural  unregenerate  man,  is  as  ofifensive  in  the  divine 
sight  as  those  more  open  evils  which  appear  so  very  re- 
proachful to  the  eyes  of  men.  I  w^as  favored  by  the  spirit 
of  truth,  in  a  large,  searching  testimony,  to  the  convicting 
and  humbling  many  hearts,  and  comfort  of  the  faithful."  ^* 

This  is  not  unlike  statements  often  made  in  modern 
revivals,  touching  the  absolute  uselessness  of  good  works, 
without  the  operation  of  divine  grace,  in  bringing  salvation. 

A  broader  view  of  goodness  and  its  sources  seems  to 
have  been  taken  by  Clement,  of  Alexandria  ^^  who  said  :  "For 
God  is  the  cause  of  all  good  things;  but  of  some  primarily, 
as  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament ;  and  of  others  by  conse- 
quence, as  philosophy.  Perchance,  too.  philosophy  was 
given  to  the  Greeks  directly  and  primarily,  till  the  Lord  ' 
should  call  the  Greeks.  For  this  was  a  schoolmaster  to 
bring  'the  Hellenic  mind,'  as  the  law,  the  Hebrews  *to 
Christ.'  "  '^ 

'^Journal,  p.   218. 

'*  Meeting  at  Uwchlan,  Pa.,  Tenth  month  22.   I/qS.     Journal,  p.  76. 

''"  Titus  Flavius  Clemens,  called  sometimes  St.  Clement,  and  Clem- 
ent of  .'Mcxandria  in  Church  hi.story,  was  born  ei  her  at  Athens  or 
Alexandria  about  A.  D.  153,  and  died  about  A.  D.  220.  He  early  em- 
braced Christianity,  and  was  among  the  most. learned  and  philosophical 
of  the  Christian   fathers. 

""■  "Anti-Nicene  Fathers,"  \'ol.   II.  p.  305. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
Some  Points  of  Doctrine. 

Klias  Hicks  had  ideas  of  the  future  hfe,  salvation,  re- 
wards and  punishments,  sometimes  original,  and  in  some 
respects  borrowed  or  adapted  from  prevalent  opinions.  But 
in  all  conclusions  reached  he  seems  to  have  thought  his  own 
way  out,  and  was  probably  unconscious  of  having  been  a 
borrower  at  all.  He  believed  unfalteringly  in  the  immor- 
tality of  the  soul,  and  held  that  the  soul  of  man  is  immortal, 
because  it  had  its  origin  in  an  immortal  God.  Every  sin 
committed  "is  a  transgression  against  his  immutable  and  un- 
changeable law,  and  is  an  immortal  sin,  as  it  pollutes  and 
brings  death  on  the  immortal  soul  of  man,  which  nothing 
in  heaven  nor  in  the  earth  but  God  alone  can  extinguish 
or  forgive,  and  this  he  will  never  do,  but  upon  his  own 
righteous  and  merciful  conditions,  which  consist  in  nothing 
more  nor  less  than  sincere  repentance  and  amendment  of 
Hfe."^ 

It  will  be  noted  that  this  statement  was  made  near  the 
close  of  his  career,  and  has  been  purposely  selected  because 
it  undoubtedly  expressed  his  final  judgment  in  the  matter. 
In  all  probability  the  words  used  were  not  meant  to  be 
taken  literally,  such  for  instance  as  those  referring  to  the 
"death"  of  the  soul.  There  is  little,  if  any  reason  to  think 
that  Elias  Hicks  believed  in  the  annihilation  of  the  sinner. 

Touching  sin  he  further  explained  his  position.  What- 
ever God  creates  is  "immutably  good."     "Therefore  if  there 


'  From   letter  addressed   to   "A   Friend,"  name   not  given,  written 
at   Jericho,  Second  month   22,   T828. 

107 


io8  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

is  any  such  things  as  sin  and  iniquity  in  the  world,  then  God 
has  neither  willed  it  nor  (jrdained  it."  "  His  position  regard- 
ing this  point  caused  him  to  antagonize  and  repudiate  the 
doctrine  of  foreordination.  Im-oiu  his  standj^oint  this  in- 
volved the  creation  of  evil  by  the  Almighty,  a  thoroughly 
preposterous  supposition.  Again,  he  held  that  if  God  had, 
"previous  to  man's  creation,  willed  and  determined  all  of 
his  actions,  then  certainly  every  man  stands  in  the  same  state 
of  acceptance  with  him,  and  a  universal  salvation  must  take 
place :  which  I  conceive  the  favorers  of  foreordination  would 
be  as  unwilling  as  myself  to  believe."  ^ 

Three  years  after  the  declaration  quoted  above,  Elias 
Hicks  wrote  a  letter  *  to  a  person  known  as  "J.  N.,"  who 
was  a  believer  in  universal  salvation.  In  this  letter  he  re- 
vives his  idea  that  foreordination  and  universal  salvation 
are  twin  heresies,  both  equally  mischievous.  This  letter 
is  very  long,  containing  nearly  4,000  words.  The  bulk  of  it 
deals  with  the  theory  of  predestination,  while  some  of  it 
relates  to  the  matter  of  sin  and  penalty.  At  one  point  the 
letter  is  censorious,  nearly  borders  on  the  dogmatic,  and  is 
.scarcely  kind.    We  quote  : 

"Hadst  thou,  in  thy  researches  after  knowledge,  been 
concerned  to  know  the  first  step  of  wisdom — the  right 
knowledge  cjf  thyself — such  an  humbling  view  of  thy  own 
insufficiency  and  entire  ignorance  of  the  Divine  Being,  and 
all  his  glorious  attributes,  would,  I  trust,  have  preserved 
thee  from  falling  into  thy  present  errors.  Errors  great 
indeed,  and  fatal  in  their  consequences ;  for  if  men  were 
capable  of  believing  with  confidence  thy  opinions,  either  as 
regards  the  doctrine  of  unconditional  predestination  and 
election,  or  the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation,  both  of 
which  certainly  and  necessarily  resolve  in  one,  who  could 
any  longer  call  any  thing  he  has  his  own?    for  all  would 

"Journal,  p.    i6i. 

'From  funeral  sennon  delivertd  in   1814.     Journal,  p.    i6i. 

*  Letter   dated   Baltimore,   Tenth   month,    1817. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL'\S  HICKS  109 

fall  a  prey  to  the  villains  and  sturdy  rogues  of  this  belief. 
And,  indeed,  a  belief  of  these  opinions  would  most  assuredly 
make  thousands  more  of  that  description  than  there  already 
are ;  as  every  temptation  to  evil,  to  gratify  the  carnal  de- 
sires, vs'ould  be  yielded  to,  as  that  which  was  ordained 
to  be ;  and  of  course  would  be  considered  as  something 
agreeable  to  God's  good  pleasure ;  and  therefore  not  only 
dur  goods  and  chattels  would  become  a  prey  to  every 
ruffian  of  this  belief,  but  even  our  wives  and  daughters 
would  fall  victims  to  the  superior  force  of  the  abandoned 
and  profligate,  as  believing  they  could  do  nothing  but  what 
God  had  ordained  to  be.  But  we  are  thankful  in  the  senti- 
ment that  no  rational,  intelligent  being  can  possibly  em- 
brace, in  full  faith,  these  inconsistent  doctrines ;  as  they 
are  founded  on  nothing  but  supposition  ;  and  supposition 
can  never  produce  real  belief,  or  a  faith  that  any  rational 
creature  can  rely  upon."  ^ 

We  make  no  attempt  to  clear  up  the  logical  connection 
between  the  doctrine  of  foreordination  and  the  theory  of 
universal  salvation,  for  it  is  by  no  means  clear  that  the  two 
necessarily  belong  together.  From  the  reasoning  of  Elias 
Hicks  it  would  seem  that  he  considered  salvation  a  trans- 
action which  made  a  fixed  and  final  condition  for  the  soul 
at  death,  whereas  the  Universalist  theory  simply  provides 
for  a  future  turning-  of  all  souls  toward  God.  Surely  the 
supposition  that  the  holding  of  the  views  of  "J.  X."  would 
bring  the  moral  disorder  and  disaster  outlined  by  his  critic 
had  not  then  been  borne  out  by  the  facts,  and  has  not  since. 
Neither  the  believers  in  foreordination  or  universal  salva- 
tion have  been  shown  worse  than  other  men.  or  more  socially 
dangerous. 

"Sin,"  he  says,  "arises  entirely  out  of  the  corrujit  inde- 
]:)endent  will  of  man :  and  which  will  is  not  of  God's  crea- 
ting, l)ut  springs  up  and  has  its  origin  in  man's  disobedience 
and  transgression,  by  making  a  wrong  use  of  his  libertv."  ^ 

'■"Letters  of  Eli:is   Hicks,"  p.  28. 
""Letters  of  Elias  Hicks,"  p.  30. 


no  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

As  the  sin  is  of  man's  voluntary  commission,  the  penalty  is 
also  to  be  charged  to  the  sinner,  and  not  to  God.  On  this 
point  Elias  Hicks  was  clear  in  his  reasoning  and  in  his  con- 
clusions : 

"Hence  those  who  make  their  election  to  good,  and 
choose  to  follow  the  teachings  of  the  inward  law  of  the 
spirit  of  God,  are  of  course  leavened  into  the  true  nature 
of  God,  and  consequently  into  the  happiness  of  God.  For 
nothing  but  that  which  is  of  the  nature  of  God  can  enjoy  the 
happiness  of  (lod.  But  he  who  makes  his  election,  or 
choice,  to  turn  away  from  God's  law  and  spirit,  and  govern 
himself  or  is  governed  by  his  own  will  and  spirit,  becomes 
a  corrupt  tree  and  although  the  same  justice,  wisdom, 
power,  mercy  and  love  are  dispensed  to  this  man  as  to  the 
other,  yet  by  his  contrary  nature,  which  has  become  fleshly, 
by  following  his  fleshlv  inclinations,  he  brings  forth  corrupt 
fruit."  ' 

Manifestly  the  idea  that  the  Almighty  punishes  men 
for  his  own  glory  had  no  place  in  the  thinking  of  the  Jericho 
I)reacher. 

The  theory  of  sin  and  penalty  held  by  Elias  Hicks 
necessarily  led  him  to  hold  opinions  regarding  rewards  and 
punishments,  and  the  place  and  manner  of  their  application, 
at  variance  with  commonly  accepted  notions.  In  fact,  the 
apparent  irregularity  of  his  thinking  in  this  particular  was 
one  of  the  causes  of  concern  on  his  behalf  on  the  part  of 
his  captious  critics  and  some  of  his  friends.  One  of  the 
latter  had  evidently  written  him  regarding  this  matter,  and 
his  replv  is  before  us.-     l-'rom  it  we  quote: 

"As  to  the  subject  relative  to  heaven  and  hell,  T  sup- 
pose what  gave  rise  to  that  part  of  my  communication 
(although  1  have  ncnv  forgotten  the  particulars)  was  a 
concern  that  at  that  time  as  well  as  many  other  times  has 


"Letters  of   Elias   Hicks."  p.  .^,^. 

Le'ter  dated  Jericho.  Third  month    14,   1S08. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  iti 

sorrowfully  impressed  my  mind,  in  observing  the  great 
ignorance  and  carnality  that  was  not  only  prevailing  among 
mankind  at  large,  but  more  especially  in  finding  it  to  be 
the  case  with  many  professing  with  us  in  relation  to  those 
things.  An  ignorance  and  carnality  that,  in  my  opinion, 
has  been  one  great  cause  of  the  prevailing  Atheism  and 
Deism  that  now  abounds  among  the  children  of  men.  For 
what  reason  or  argument  could  a  professed  Christian  bring 
forward  to  convince  an  Atheist  or  Deist  that  there  is  such 
a  place  as  heaven  as  described  and  circumscribed  in  some 
certain  limits  and  place  in  some  distant  and  unknown 
region  as  is  the  carnal  idea  of  too  many  professing  Chris- 
tianity, and  even  of  many,  I  fear,  of  us?  Or  such  a  place 
as  hell,  or  a  gulf  located  in  some  interior  part  of  this  little 
terraqueous  globe?  But  when  the  Christian  brings  forward 
to  the  Atheist  or  Deist  reasons  and  arguments  fovmded  on 
indubitable  certainty,  things  that  he  knows  in  his  own  ex- 
])erience  every  day  through  the  powerful  evidence  of  the 
divine  law-giver  in  his  own  heart,  he  cannot  fail  of  yield- 
ing his  assent,  for  he  feels  as  he  goes  on  in  unbelief  and 
hardness  of  heart  he  is  plunging  himself  every  day  deeper 
and  deeper  into  that  place  of  torment,  and  let  him  go 
whithersoever  he  will,  his  hell  goes  with  him.  He  can  no 
more  be  rid  of  it  than  he  can  be  rid  of  himself.  And 
although  he  flies  to  the  rocks  and  moimtains  to  fall  on  him, 
to  deliver  him  from  his  tremendous  condition,  yet  he  finds 
all  is  in  vain,  for  wdiere  God  is,  there  hell  is  always  to  the 
sinner ;  according  to  that  true  saying  of  our  dear  Lord,  'this 
is  the  condemnation  of  the  world  that  light  is  come  into  the 
world,  but  men  love  darkness  rather  than  the  light,  because 
their  deeds  are  evil."  Now  God,  or  Christ  (who  are  one  in 
a  spiritual  sense),  is  this  light  that  continually  condemns 
the  transgressor.  Therefore,  where  God  or  Christ  is,  there 
is  hell  always  to  the  sinner,  and  God.  according  to  Scripture 
and  the  everyday  experience  of  every  rational  creature,  is 
everywhere  present,  for  he  fills  all  things,  and  by  him  all 
things  consist.  And  as  the  sinner  finds  in  himself  and 
knows  in  his  own  experience  that  there  is  a  hell,  and  one 
that  he  cannot  possibly  escape  while  he  remains  a  sinner, 
so  likewise  the  righteous  know,  and  that  by  experience, 
that  there  is  a  heaven,  l)Ut  they  know  of  none  above  the 
outward  clouds  and  outward  atmosphere.  They  have  no 
experience  of  any  such,  but  the}'  know  a  heaven  where 
Ciod  dwells,  and  know  a  sitting  with  liim  a-t  seasons  in 
heavenh-  places  in  Christ  Jesus." 


112  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Elias  based  salvation  on 
repentance  and  amendment  of  life,  but  the  bulk  of  his  ex- 
pression would  seem  to  indicate  that  he  held  to  the  idea  that 
repentance  must  come  during  this  life.  In  fact,  an  early 
remark  of  his  gives  clear  warrant  f(3r  this  conclusion.''  He 
does  not  seem  to  have  ever  ad(3pted  the  theory  that  continuity 
of  life  carried  with  it  continuation  of  opportunity  touching- 
repentance  and  restoration  of  the  soul. 

From  the  twentieth  century  standpoint  views  like  the 
foregoing  would  scarcely  cause  a  ripple  of  protest  in  any 
well-informed  religious  circles.  But  eighty  years  ago  the 
case  was  different.  A  material  place  for  excessively  mate- 
rial punishment  of  the  soul,  on  account  of  moral  sin  and 
spiritual  turpitude,  was  essential  to  orthodox  standing  in 
practically  every  branch  of  the  Christian  church,  with  pos- 
sibly two  or  three  exceptions.  Elias  Hicks  practically 
admits  that  in  the  Society  of  Friends  not  a  few  persons 
held  to  the  gross  and  materialistic  conceptions  which  he 
criticised  and  repudiated. 

The  question  of  personal  immortality  was  more  than 
once  submitted  to  him  for  consideration.  After  certain 
Friends  began  to  pick  flaws  with  his  ideas  and  theories,  he 
was  charged  with  being  a  doubter  regarding  nearly  all  the 
common  Christian  affirmations,  immortality  included. 
There  was  little  reason  for  misunderstanding  or  misre]v 
resenting  him  in  this  particular,  for,  however  he  failed  to 
make  himself  understood  touching  other  points  of  doctrine, 
he  was  perfectly  clear  on  this  point.  In  a  letter  to  Charles 
Stokes,  of  Rancocas,  N.  J.,  written  Fourth  month  3,  1829, 
he  said : 

"Can  it  be  possibly  necessary  for  me  to  add  anything 
further,  to  manifest  my  full  and  entire  belief  of  the  immor- 
tality of  the  soul  of  man?    Surely,  wdiat  an  ignorant  creature 

"  Sl'c   paRf   2,^   of   this   ]K)ok. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  FJ.IAS   HICKS  it.? 

iiuist  that  man  be  that  hath  not  come  to  the  clear  and 
full  kno\vledi;e  of  that  in  himself.  Does  not  every  man  feel 
a  desire  fixed  in  his  very  nature  after  happiness,  that  urges 
him  on  in  a  steady  pursuit  after  something-  to  satisfy  this 
desire,  and  does  he  not  find  that  all  the  riches  and  honor 
and  glory  of  this  world,  together  with  every  thing  that  is 
mortal,  falls  infinitely  short  of  satisfying  this  desire?  which 
proves  it  to  be  immortal ;  and  can  any  thing,  or  being,  that 
is  not  immortal  in  itself,  receive  the  impress  of  an  immortal 
desire  upon  it?  Surely  not.  Therefore,  this  immortal  de- 
sire of  the  soul  of  man  never  can  be  fully  satisfied  until 
it  comes  to  be  established  in  a  state  of  immortality  and 
eternal  life,  beyond  the  grave."  ^" 

There  are  not  many  direct  references  to  inmiortality 
in  the  published  sermons,  although  inferences  in  that  direc- 
tion are  numerous.  In  a  sermon  at  Darl)y.  Pa..  Twelfth 
month  7,  1826,  he  declared:  "We  see  then  that  the  great 
business  of  our  li\'es  is  'to  lay  up  treasure  in  hea\-en.'  "  "  In 
this  case  and  others  like  it  he  evidently  means  treasure  in 
the  spiritual  world.  In  his  discourses  he  frequently  re- 
ferred to  "our  immortal  souls"  in  a  wav  to  lea\'e  no  doubt 
as  to  his  belief  in  a  continuity  of  life.  His  reference  to  the 
death  of  his  young-  sons  lea\'e  no  room  for  doubt  in  the 
matter.'- 

In  speaking  of  tlie  death  of  his  wife,  both  in  his  Journal 
and  in  his  private  correspondence,  his  references  all  point 
to  the  future  life.  "Her  precious  spirit,"  he  said.  "I  trust 
and  believe  has  landed  safely  on  the  angelic  shore."  Again, 
"being  preserved  together  fift}'-eight  years  in  one  unbroken 
bond  of  endeared  attection.  which  seemed  if  possible  to 
increase   with  time   to   the   last   monient   of   her   life:   and 


Letters  of  Elias  Hicks,"  p.  218. 

"  "The  Quaker,"  Vol.  IV.  p.  127. 

'^  See  page  61   of  this  hook.  15 


114  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

which  neitlier  time  nor  distance  can  lessen  (5r  dissolve;  but 
in  the  spiritual  relation  I  trust  it  will  endure  f(3rever."  ^^ 

During-  the  last  ten  years  of  the  life  of  Elias  Hicks  he 
was  simply  overburdened  answering  questions  and  explain- 
ing his  position  touching  a  multitude  of  vicAvs  charged 
against  him  by  his  critics  and  defamers.  Among  the  matters 
thus  brought  to  his  attention  was  the  miraculous  conception 
of  Jesus,  and  the  A^arious  beliefs  growing  out  of  that  doc- 
trine. In  an  undated  manuscript  found  among  his  papers 
and  letters,  and  manifestly  not  belonging  to  a  date  earlier 
than  1826  or  1827,  he  pretty  clearly  states  his  theory  touch- 
ing this  delicate  subject.  In  this  document  he  is  more 
delinite  than  he  is  in  some  of  his  published  statements 
relating  to  the  same  matter.  He  asserts  that  there  is  a 
dilTerence  between  "begetting  and  creating."  He  scouts 
as  revolting  the  conception  that  the  Almighty  begat  Jesus, 
as  is  the  case  in  the  animal  function  of  procreation.  On 
the  other  hand,  he  said :  "But,  as  in  the  beginning  of  crea- 
tion, he  spake  the  word  and  it  w-as  done,  so  by  his  almighty 
l^ower  he  spake  the  w^ord  and  by  it  created  the  seed  of  man 
in  the  fleshly  woml:)  of  ]\Iary."  In  other  words,  the  miracu- 
lous conce[)tion  was  a  creation  and  not  the  act  of  begetting. 

In  his  correspondence  he  repeatedly  asserted  that  he 
liad  believed  in  the  miraculous  conception  from  his  youth 
up.  To  'J'homas  W'illis.  who  was  one  of  his  earliest  ac- 
cusers, he  said  tliat  "althougli  there  ap])eare(l  to  me  as 
much,  or  more,  letter  testimony  in  the  account  of  the  four 
Evangelists  against  as  for  the  support  of  that  miracle,  yet 
it  had  not  rdtered  ni}-  belief  therein."  ^*  It  has  to  be  ad- 
mitted that  the  miraculous  conception  held  by  Elias  Hicks 
was  scarcely  the  doctrine  of  the  creeds,  or  that  held  by 
evangelical   Christians   in   the  early  part  of  the   nineteenth 

'"Journal,  p.  425. 

""Letters  of  Elias   Hicks,"  p.  179. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  f)l'    LI. I  AS   HICKS  115 

century.  His  theory  may  be  more  rational  than  the  popular 
conception  and  may  be  etjually  miraculous,  but  it  was  not 
the  same  proposition. 

Whether  Elias  considered  this  a  distinction  without  a 
difference  we  know  not,  but  it  is  very  certain  that  he  did  not 
consider  the  miracle  or  the  dogma  growing  out  of  it  a  vital 
miitter.  He  declared  that  a  "belief  therein  was  not  an 
essential  to  salvation."  ^^  His  reason  for  this  opinion  was 
that  "whate\'er  is  essential  to  the  salvation  of  the  souls  of 
men  is  dispensed  by  a  common  creator  to  everv  rational 
creature  under  heaven."  ^'^  No  hint  of  a  miraculous  con- 
ception, he  held,  had  been  revealed  to  the  souls  of  men. 

It  is  possible  that  in  the  minds  of  the  ultra  Orthodox, 
to  deny  the  saving  value  of  a  belief  in  the  miraculous  con- 
ception, although  admitting  it  as  a  fact,  or  recasting  it  as  a 
theory,  was  a  more  reprehensible  act  of  heresy  than  deny- 
ing the  dogma  entirely.  ^Manifestly  Elias  Hicks  was  alto- 
gether too  original  in  his  thinking  to  secure  his  own  peace 
and  comfort  in  the  world  of  nineteentli-centurv  theology. 

When  we  consider  the  theory  of  the  (li\initv  of  Christ, 
and  the  theory  of  the  incarnation,  we  find  Elias  Hicks 
taking  the  atfirmative  side,  but  even  lierc  it  is  questionable 
if  he  was  alarming  the  popular  conception.  Touching  these 
matters  he  put  himself  definitely  on  record  in  1827  in  a 
letter  w-ritten  to  an  unnamed  Friend.     In  this  letter  he  savs : 

"As  to  the  divinity  of  Christ,  the  son  of  the  virgin — 
\vhen  he  had  arrived  to  a  fidl  state  of  sonship  in  the  spiritual 
generation,  he  was  wholly  swallowed  up  into  the  divinitv 
of  his  heavenly  Father,  and  was  one  with  his  Father,  with 
only  this  diiTerence :  his  Father's  divinity  was  imderived, 
being  self-existent,  but  the  son's  divinity  was  altogether 
derived  from  the  Father;  for  otherwise  he  could  not  be  the 
son  of  God.  as  in  the  moral  relation,  to  be  a  son  of  man. 

■' "Letters  of   Llias   Hicks.'"  p.   178. 
""Letters   of    Elias   Hicks."   p.    178. 


ii6  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS 

the  son  must  be  begotten  by  one  father,  and  he  must  be  in 
the  same  nature,  spirit  and  likeness  of  his  father,  so  as  to 
say,  I  and  my  father  are  one  in  all  those  respects.  But  this 
was  not  the  case  with  Jesus  in  the  spiritual  relation,  until 
he  had  gone  through  the  last  institute  of  the  law  dispen- 
sation, viz.,  John's  watery  baptism,  and  had  received  addi- 
tional power  from  on  high,  by  the  descending  of  the  holy 
ghost  upon  him,  as  he  came  up  out  of  the  water.  He  then 
witnessed  the  fulness  of  the  second  birth,  being  now  born 
into  the  nature,  spirit  and  likeness  of  the  heavenly  Father, 
and  God  gave  witness  of  it  to  John,  saying,  'This  is  my 
beloved  son.  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased.'  And  this  agrees 
with  Paul's  testimony,  where  he  assures  us  that  as  many 
as  are  led  bv  the  spirit  of  God,  thev  are  the  sons  of 
God."  '' 

Just  as  he  repudiated  material  localized  places  of  re- 
ward and  punishment,  Elias  Hicks  disputed  the  presence  in 
the  world  of  a  personal  evil  spirit,  roaming  around  seeking 
whom  he  might  ensnare  and  devour.  In  fact,  in  his  the- 
ology there  was  no  tinge  of  the  Persian  dualism.  Satan, 
from  his  standpoint,  had  no  existence  outside  man.  He 
was  simply  a  figure  to  illustrate  the  evil  propensity  in  men. 
In  the  estimation  of  the  ultra  Orthodox  to  claim  that  there 
was  no  personal  devil,  wlio  tempted  our  tnrst  parents  in 
h'den.  was  second  onlv  in  point  of  heresv  to  denving  tlie 
existence  of  (]ih\  himself — the  two  persons  both  being  es- 
sential i)arts  in  the  theological  system  to  which  they  te- 
naciously held. 

Touching  tin's  matter  he  thus  expressed  himself: 
"And  ;is  to  what  is  called  a  devil  or  satan.  it  is  something 
within  us.  that  tem])ts  us  lo  go  counter  to  the  commands  of 
G(i(l.  ;uid  our  duty  to  liim  and  our  fellow  creatures;  and  the 
Scri])iures  tell  us  there  are  many  of  them,  and  that  Jesus 
cast  sex'en  out  of  itne  woman."  '"^ 

"-\'\w  QuakcT."  Vol.  IV.  p.  284. 

'*  Fnuii  IcUcr  to  Cliarles  .Stokes.  Fnurth  month  3,  1829.  "Letters 
of  Elias  Hicks,"  p.  Jij. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL-\S  HICKS  117 

He  was  cliari^ed  with  Ijeing  a  Deist,  and  an  infidel  of 
the  Thomas  Paine  stripe,  yet  from  his  own  standpoint 
there  was  no  shad(jw  of  truth  in  any  of  these  charges.  His 
references  to  Atheism  and  Deism  already  cited  in  these  pages 
afford  evidence  on  this  point.  In  1798  he  w^as  at  Gap  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  referring  to  his  experience  there  he 
said : 

"Whilst  in  this  neighborhood  my  mind  was  brought 
into  a  state  of  deep  exercise  and  travail,  from  a  sense  of  the 
.L;reat  turning  away  of  many  of  us,  from  the  law  and  the 
testimony,  and  the  prevailing  of  a  spirit  of  great  infidelity 
and  deism  among  the  people,  and  darkness  spreading  over 
the  minds  of  many  as  a  thick  veil.  It  was  a  time  in  which 
Thomas  Paine's  Age  of  Reason  (falsely  so  called)  was  much 
attended  to  in  those  parts ;  and  some,  who  were  members 
in  our  Society,  as  I  was  informed,  were  captivated  by  his 
dark  insinuating  address,  and  were  ready  almost  to  make 
shipwreck  of  faith  and  a  good  conscience.  Under  a  sense 
thereof  my  spirit  w^as  deeply  humbled  before  the  majesty 
of  heaven,  and  in  the  anguish  of  my  soul  I  said,  'spare  thy 
people,  O  Lord,  and  give  not  thy  heritage  to  reproach,'  and 
suffer  not  thy  truth  to  fall  in  the  streets."  '^ 

Touching  his  supposed  Unitarianisni,  there  are  no  di- 
rect references  to  that  tlieory  in  his  publislied  works.  A 
letter  written  by  Elias  Hicks  to  William  B.  Irish,  '"  Second 
month  II,  1821,  is  aboiit  the  only  reference  t(3  the  matter. 
In  this  letter  he  says : 

"In  regard  to  the  L'nitarian  doctrine,  I  am  too  much  a 
stranger  to  their  general  tenets  to  give  a  decided  senti- 
ment,   but    according   to    the    definition    gi\en    of   them    by 

'"  Journal,   p.   70. 

■"  William  B.  Irish  lived  in  Pittsburg,  and  was  a  disciple  of  Elias 
Hicks,  as  he  confessed  to  his  spiritual  profit.  In  a  letter  written  to 
Elias  from  Philadelphia,  Eleven'.h  month  21,  1823,  he  said:  "'I  tell 
you,  you  are  the  first  man  that  ever  put  my  mind  in  search  of  heavenly 
food."  Whether  he  ever  united  with  the  Society  we  are  not  informed, 
although  Elias  expressed  the  hope  that  he  might  see  his  way  clear  to 
do  so. 


ii8  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL-\S   HICKS 

Dyche  in  his  dictionary,  I  think  it  is  more  consistent  and 
rational  than  the  doctrine  of  the  trinity,  which  I  think  fairly 
makes  out  three  Gods.  But  as  I  have  lately  spent  some  time 
in  perusing  the  ancient  history  of  the  church,  in  which  I 
find  that  Trinitarians,  Unitarians,  Arians,  Xestorians  and  a 
number  of  other  sects  that  sprung  up  in  the  night  of  apos- 
tacy,  as  each  got  into  power  they  cruelly  persecuted  each 
other,  by  which  they  evidenced  that  they  had  all  apostatized 
from  the  primitive  faith  and  practice,  and  the  genuine  spirit 
of  Christianity,  hence  I  conceive  there  is  no  safety  in  joining 
with  any  of  those  sects,  as  their  leaders  I  believe  are  gen- 
erally each  looking  to  their  own  quarter  for  gain.  There- 
fore our  safety  consists  in  standing  alone  (waiting  at 
Jerusalem)  that  is  in  a  quiet  retired  state,  similar  to  the 
disciples  formerly,  imtil  we  receive  power  from  on  high,  or 
until  by  the  opening  of  that  divine  spirit  (or  comforter,  a 
manifestation  of  which  is  given  to  every  man  and  woman 
to  profit  withal)  w-e  are  led  into  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth  agreeably  to  the  doctrine  of  Jesus  to  his  disciples.'' 

In  regard  to  the  death  and  resurrection  of  Jesus,  Elias 
Hicks  considered  himself  logically  and  scripturally  sound, 
although  his  ideas  may  not  have  squared  with  any  prevalent 
theological  doctrines.  In  repl}"  to  the  query,  "By  what 
means  did  Jesus  suffer?"'  he  answered  unhesitatingly,  "By 
the  hands  r)f  wicked  men."  A  second  query  was  to  the 
effect,  "Did  God  send  him  into  the  world  pttrposely  to  suffer 
death?"     Here  is  the  answer: 

"Bv  no  means:  but  to  live  a  righteous  and  godly  life 
(which  was  the  design  and  end  of  God's  creating  man  iti 
the  beginning),  and  thereby  be  a  perfect  example  to  such 
of  mankind  as  should  come  to  the  knowledge  of  him  and  of 
his  perfect  life.  For  if  it  was  the  purpose  and  will  of  Gcxl 
that  he  should  die  by  the  hands  of  wicked  men.  then  the 
Jews,  by  crucifying  him,  would  have  done  God's  will,  and 
of  course  would  all  have  stood  justified  in  his  sight,  which 

could    not    be." "But    the    shedding    of    his 

blood  bv  the  wicked  scribes  and  Pharisees,  and  people  of 
Israel,  had  a  ])articular  eiYect  on  the  Jewish  nation,  as  by 
this  the  topstone  and  worst  of  all  their  crimes,  was  filled  up 
the  measure  of  their  ini(|uities,  and  which  put  an  end  to  that 
dispensation,  together  with  its  law  and  covenant.     That  as 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS  119 

John's  baptism  summed  up  in  one,  all  the  previous  water 
baptisms  of  that  dispensation,  and  put  an  end  to  them, 
which  he  sealed  with  his  blood,  so  this  sacrifice  of  the  body 
of  Jesus  Christ,  summed  up  in  one  all  the  outward  atoning 
sacrifices  of  the  shadowy  dispensation  and  put  an  end  to 
them  all,  thereby  abolishing  the  law  having  previously  ful- 
filled all  its  righteousness,  and,  as  saith  the  apostle,  'He 
blotted  out  the  handwriting  of  ordinances,  nailing  them  to 
his  cross ;'  having  put  an  end  to  the  law  that  commanded 
them,  with  all  its  legal  sins,  and  abolished  all  its  legal  pen- 
alties, so  that  all  the  Israelites  that  believed  on  him  after 
he  exclaimed  on  the  cross  *It  is  finished,'  might  abstain 
from  all  the  rituals  of  their  law,  such  as  circumcision,  water 
baptisms,  outward  sacrifices,  Seventh-day  Sabbaths,  and  all 
their  other  holy  days,  etc."  -^ 

Continuing,  he  says :  "Now  all  this  life,  power  and  will 
of  man,  must  be  slain  and  die  on  the  cross  spiritually,  as 
Jesus  died  on  the  cross  outwardly,  and  this  is  the  true  atone- 
ment, of  which  that  outward  atonement  was  a  clear  and 
full  type."  For  the  scriptural  proof  of  his  contention  he 
quotes  Romans  VI,  3 :  4.  He  claimed  that  the  baptism  re- 
ferred to  by  Paul  was  spiritual,  and  the  newness  of  life  to 
follow  must  also  be  spiritual. 

The  resurrection  was  also  spiritualized,  and  given  an 
internal,  rather  than  an  external,  sig"nificance.  Its  intent 
was  to  awaken  in  "the  believer  a  belief  in  the  sufficiency  of 
an  invisible  power,  that  was  able  to  do  any  thing  and  every 
thing  that  is  consistent  with  justice,  mercy  and  truth,  and 
that  would  conduce  to  the  exaltation  and  good  of  his  crea- 
ture man." 

"Therefore  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  l)ody  of  Jesus 
that  could  not  possibly  of  itself  create  in  itself  a  power  to 
loose  the  bonds  of  death,  and  which  must  consequently 
have  been  the  work  of  an  invisible  power,  points  to  and  is 
a  shadow  of  the  resurrection  of  the  soul  that  is  dead  in  tres- 


"'  All  of  the  extracts  above  are  from  a  letter  to  Dr.  Nathan  Shoe- 
maker, of  Philadelphia,  written  Third  month  31,  1823.  See  "Foster's 
Re])ort,''  pp.  422-23. 


I20  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLA.S  HICKS 

j)asses  and  sins,  and  tliat  hath  no  capacity  to  quicken  itself, 
but  depends  wholly  on  the  renewed  influence  and  quick- 
ening power  of  the  spirit  of  God.  For  a  soul  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins  can  no  more  raise  a  desire  of  itself  for  a 
renewed  quickening  of  the  divine  life  in  itself  than  a  dead 
body  can  raise  a  desire  of  itself  for  a  renewal  of  natural 
life ;  but  both  equally  depend  on  the  omnipotent  presiding 
])0\ver  of  the  spirit  of  God.  as  is  clearly  set  forth  by  the 
prophet  under  the  similitude  of  the  resurrection  of  dry 
bones."     Ezekiel,  Z7 :  1.-- 

"Hence  the  resurrection  of  the  outward  fleshly  body  of 
Jesus  and  some  few  others  under  the  law  dispensation,  as 
manifested  to  the  external  senses  of  man,  gives  full  evi- 
dence as  a  shadow,  pointing  to  the  sufficiency  of  the  divine 
invisible  power  of  God  to  raise  the  soul  from  a  state  of 
spiritual  death  into  newness  of  life  and  into  the  enjoyment 
of  the  spiritual  substance  of  all  the  previous  shadows  of 
the  law  state.  And  by  the  arising  of  this  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness in  the  soul  all  shadows  flee  away  and  come  to  an  end, 
and  the  soul  presses  forward,  under  its  divine  influence, 
into  that  that  is  within  the  veil,  where  our  forerunner,  even 
Jesus,  has  entered  for  us,  showing  us  the  way  into  the 
holiest  of  holies.'"  -^ 

We  have  enflea\'ored  to  gi\-e  such  a  view  of  the  doctri- 
nal ])()ints  covered,  as  will  gi\'e  a  fair  idea  of  what  Elias 
Hicks  believed.  Whether  they  were  unsound  opinions,  such 
as  should  have  disrupted  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  nearly 
shipwreck  it  on  a  sea  of  bitterness,  we  lea\-e  for  the  reader 
to  decide.  It  should  be  stated,  liowever.  that  the  opinions 
herein  set  forth  did  nc»t.  In-  an\-  means,  constitute  the  sub- 
ject matter  of  all,  or  possibly  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
sermons  he  preached.  There  is  room  for  the  inquiry  in  our 
time  whether  a  large  amount  of  doctrinal  o])inion  ]iresented 
in  our  meetings  for  worship,  e\en  thdugh  it  be  of  the  kind 
in  which  the  majority  apparently  believe,  wouhi  not  have  a 
dividing  and  scattering  efTect. 

22  "The  Quaker."  \'oI.  IV,  p.  286.  Letter  of  Elias  Hicks  to  an 
unknown    friend. 

23  "The  Quaker,"  Vol.  IV,  pp.  286-287.  Letter  of  Elias  Hicks  to 
an    unknown    friend. 


ELIAS    HICKS 

FROM     PAINTING    BY     KETCHAM 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Before  the  Division. 

No  BIOGRAPHY  of  Elias  Hicks  could  he  even  approxi- 
mately adequate  which  ignored  the  division  in  the  Society 
of  Friends  in  1827- 1828,  commonly,  but  erroneously,  called 
"the  separation."  While  his  part  in  the  trouble  has  been 
greatly  exaggerated,  inasmuch  as  he  was  made  the  storm- 
center  of  the  controversy  by  his  opponents,  to  consider  the 
causes  and  influences  which  led  to  the  difficulty,  especially 
as  they  were  either  rightly  or  wrongly  made  to  apply  to 
Elias  Hicks,  is  vital  to  a  study  of  his  life,  and  an  apprecia- 
tion of  his  labors. 

We  shall  not  be  able  to  understand  the  matter  at  all, 
unless  we  can  in  a  measure  take  ourseh'es  back  to  the  first 
([uarter  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  as  far  as  possible 
appreciate  the  thought  and  life  of  that  time.  We  must  re- 
member that  a  svstem  of  dogmatic  theology,  unciualified 
and  untem])ere(l  by  any  of  the  findings  of  modern  scliolar- 
ship,  was  the  central  and  dominating  influence  in  the  re- 
lisfious  world.  Authority  of  some  sort  was  the  source  of 
religious  belief,  and  uniformity  of  doctrine  the  basis  of 
religious  fellowship. 

The  aftermath  of  the  French  Revolution  appeared  in 
a  period  of  religious  negation.  Destructive,  rather  than 
constructive  criticism  was  the  ruling  passion  of  the  un- 
churched world.  The  conservative  mind  was  burdened  with 
a])prehension,  and  the  fear  of  a  chaos  of  faith  possessed  the 
minds  of  the  preachers,  the  theologians  and  the  communi- 
cants of  the  so-called  Orthodox  Christian  churches.  The 
Unitarian  u])rising  in  Xew  England  had  hopelessly  divided 

121  16 


122  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL'\S  HICKS 

the  historic  church  (jf  the  Puritans,  and  the  conservative 
h^riends  saw  in  every  advance  in  thous^ht  the  Ijreakins;-  u]) 
of  w  Iiat  they  considered  tlie  foundations  of  rehgion.  and 
fear  i^ossessed  them  accorchngly. 

But  more  important  than  this  is  the  fact  that  Friends 
hatl  largely  lost  the  historic  perspective,  touching  their  own 
origin.  They  had  forgotten  that  their  foundations  were 
laid  in  a  revolt  against  a  prevalent  theology,  and  the  e\il  of 
external  authority  in  religion.  Fr(^m  being  persecuted  they 
liad  grown  popular  and  ])rosperous.  The)'  therefore  shrank 
from  change  in  zion.  and  from  the  oppcjsition  and  ostracism 
which  always  had  been  the  fate  of  those  who  liroke  witli 
ai)pro\"ed  and  established  religious  standards.  Without 
doubt  they  honored  the  heroism  and  respected  the  sacrifices 
of  tlie  fathers  as  the  "first  spreaders  of  truth."  But  they 
had  neither  the  temper  nor  the  taste  to  be  alike  heretic,  in 
making  Quakerism  a  progressive  spirit,  rather  than  a  final 
refuge  of  a  traditional  religion. 

An  efTort  was  made  by  the  opponents  of  Elias  Hicks 
to  make  it  appear  that  what  they  were  pleased  to  call  his 
"unsoundness  in  doctrine,"  came  late  in  life,  and  somewhat 
suddenly.  But  for  tliis  claim  there  is  little  if  any  Aalid  e\i- 
dence.  His  preaching  probabl)-  underwent  little  vital  change 
throughout  his  entire  ministry.  Turner,  the  Rnglish  his- 
torian, says:  "But  the  facts  remain  that  until  near  the  close 
of  his  long  life  Hicks  was  in  general  esteem,  that  tliere  is 
no  sign  anywhere  in  his  writings  of  a  change  of  oi)inions. 
(.)r  new  departure  in  his  teaching."  ^ 

'j^iere  is  unpublished  correspondence  which  conlirms 
the  opinion  of  Turner.  1diis  is  true  touching  what  might 
be  called  his  theological  as  well  as  his  sc^ciological  notions. 

In  a  letter  written  to  Elias  Hicks  in   1805.  by  James 

'  "Tlif  Qual<er>,"  Frederick  Stuns  Tumor,  p.  293. 


LIFE  ANi:)  LABORS  ()1<"  LLIAS  HICKS  12;, 

Afott.  Sr.,"  reference  is  made  to  Elias  having-  denied  the 
ahsohitel}'  saving  character  of  the  Scriptures.  In  this  con- 
nection the  letter  remarks:  "I  conceive  it  is  no  matter  how 
highly  people  \alue  the  Scri])tures,  proxided  they  can  only 
be  convinced  that  the  spirit  that  g-a\'e  them  forth  is  superior 
to  them,  and  to  be  their  rule  and  guide  instead  of  them." 

In  1806,  in  a  sermon  at  Nine  Partners,  in  Dutchess 
County,  New  York,  as  reported  by  himself,  he  declared  that 
n.ien  can  only  by  "faithful  attention  and  adherence  to  the 
aforesaid  divine  principle,  the  light  within,  come  to  know 
and  believe  the  certainty  of  those  excellent  Scripture  doc- 
trines, of  the  coming,  life,  righteous  works,  sufferings, 
death  and  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  our  blessed  pattern : 
and  that  it  is  by  obedience  to  this  iiizvard  light  onI\  that 
we  are  prepared  for  admittance  into  the  heavenly  king- 
dom." " 

It  seems,  however,  that  Stephen  Grellet,*  if  we  may 
take  the  authority  of  his  biogr;iphers,  Hodgson''  and 
Cruest,''  as  early  as  1808,  was  fearful  of  the  orthodoxy  of 
Elias  Hicks,  and  probably  based  his  fear  on  extracts  like 
the  passage  cited  abo\e.  Whate\er  may  be  iiuagined  to 
the  contrary,  it  is  pretty  certain  that  at  no  time  for  fort\- 
}ears  before  his  death  did  Elias  Hicks  preach  doctrine  that 
would  liave  been  satisfactory  to  the  orthodox  theologians 

'  This  JaiiK-s  .Mntt  was  the  father  of  AniK-,  who  niarricd  Adam, 
the  father  of  Janios,  tlie  hiishand  of  Liicretia.  James  Mott,  .Sr.  died 
ill    iSj,v 

'  Journal,  p.    i  J2. 

*  Stephen  Grellct,  born  in  Limoges,  I'Vance,  Eleventh  month  2, 
^773-  ^^  scion  of  the  French  nobility.  Became  interested  in  the  Society 
of  Friends  when  abont  twenty  years  of  age.  Came  to  America  in 
1795,  and  was  recorded  a  minister  in  Philadelphia,  in  1798  Became 
a  New  York  business  man  in  1799.  ^Nlade  extensive  religions  visits  in 
various  countries  in  Europe,  and  in  many  .\merican  states.  Was  also 
active  in  philanthropic  work.  He  died  at  Burlington,  X.  J.,  in  1853. 
In   his  theology  he  was  entirely  evangelical. 

""Life  of  Stephen  Cirellet,"  Hodgson,  p.  142. 
"  "Stephen  Grellet,"  by  William  Guest,  p.  7^. 


124  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

of  his  time,  altliongli  lie  did  not  always  antagonize  the 
dogmas  of  tlie  churches. 

If  Stephen  Grellet  ever  had  any  personal  interview 
with  Elias  Hicks  regarding  his  "unsoundness/'  the  matter 
was  ignored  by  the  latter.  In  Eighth  month,  1808,  some 
months  after  it  is  claimed  the  discovery  was  made  by 
Grellet,  the  two  men.  with  other  Friends,  were  on  a  religious 
visit  in  parts  of  New  England.  In  a  letter  to  his  wife, 
dated  Danby,  Vt.,  Eighth  month  26,  1808,  Elias  says: 
"Stephen  Grellet,  Gideon  Seaman,  Esther  Griffin  and  Ann 
Alott  we  left  yesterday  morning  at  a  town  called  Aliddle- 
bur}',  about  eighteen  miles  short  of  this  place,  Stephen  feel- 
ing a  concern  to  appoint  a  meeting  among  the  town's  people 
of  that  place."  Evidently  no  very  great  barrier  existed 
i)etween  the  two  men  at  that  time. 

In  any  event  no  disposition  seemed  to  exist  to  inaugu- 
rate a  theological  controversy  in  the  Society  of  Friends,  or 
to  erect  a  standard  of  fellowship  other  than  spiritual  unity, 
until  a  decade  after  the  claimed  concern  of  Stephen  Grellet. 
It  appears  that  in  1818,  Phebe  Willis,  wife  of  Thomas 
Willis,  a  recorded  minister  of  Jericho  Alonthly  Meeting, 
had  a  written  communication  with  Elias,  touching  his  doc- 
trinal "soundness,"  Phebe  being  an  elder.  That  the  oppo- 
sition began  in  Jericho,  and  that  it  was  confined  to  the 
W'ilhs  famil}-  and  one  other  in  that  meeting,  seems  to  be  a 
fairly  well  attested  fact.  In  1829,  after  the  division  in  the 
Society  had  been  accomplished,  Elias  Hicks  wrote  a  letter 
to  a  friend  gi\ing  a  short  history  of  the  beginning  of  the 
trouble  in  jericlio.  from  wliicli  we  make  the  following 
extract : 

"The  beginning  of  the  rupture  in  our  yearly  meeting 
had  its  rise  in  our  particular  monthly  meeting,  and  I  have 
full  evidence  before  me  of  both  its  rise  and  progress.  The 
first  shadow  of  complaint  against  me  as  to  my  doctrines 
was  made  bv  Thomas  \\'illis,  a  member  and  minister  of  our 


LIFE  AND   I.AIiORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  125 

own  preparative  meeting-.  He  manifested  his  first  uneasi- 
ness at  the  close  of  one  of  our  own  meetings  nearly  in  these 
words,  between  him  and  myself  alone.  'That  he  appre- 
hended that  I,  in  my  public  communication,  lowered  down 
the  character  of  Jesus  and  the  Scriptures  of  truth.'  Aly 
reply  to  him  was  that  1  had  placed  them  both  upon  the 
very  foundation  they  each  had  placed  themselves,  and  that 
I  dare  not  place  them  any  hi<^her  or  lower.  At  the  same 
time  the  whole  monthly  meetin,q".  except  he  and  his  wife, 
as  far  as  I  knew,  were  in  full  unity  with  me,  both  as  to 
my  ministry  and  otherwise,  but  as  they  were  both  members 
of  the  meeting-  of  ministers  and  elders  they  made  the  first 
])nblic  disclosure  of  their  uneasiness.  Thomas  had  an 
ancient  mother,  likewise  a  minister,  that  lived  in  the  house 
with  them;  they  so  far  overcame  her  better  judgment  as  to 
induce  her  to  take  a  part  with  them,  although  she  was  a 
very  amiable  and  useful  member,  and  one  that  I  had  always 
a  great  esteem  for,  and  we  had  been  nearly  united  together 
in  gospel  fellowship,  both  in  public  meetings  and  those  for 
discipline,  for  forty  years  and  upward."  ^ 

The  meeting-,  through  a  judicious  committee,  tried  to 
(|uiet  the  fears  of  Thomas  Willis  and  wife,  and  bring  them 
in  unity  with  the  vastly  major  portion  of  the  meeting-,  but 
without  success.  These  Friends  being  persistent  in  their 
(Opposition,  they  were  suspended  from  the  meeting  of  min- 
isters and  elders,  but  were  ]:)ermitte(l  to  retain  their  mem- 
bersln'p  in  the  Societv. 


Letter  to  JoIiJison  Leoi^^  (kite<J  Joriciici,  'I'welfth  iin;nth   15,   1829. 


CHAPTER    XV 
First  Trouble  in  Philadelphia. 

Transferring  the  story  of  the  opposition  to  the  min- 
istry of  EHas  Hicks  to  Philadelphia,  it  would  appear  that 
its  hrst  public  manifestation  occurred  in  1819.  During  this 
year  he  made  his  fifth  somewhat  extended  religious  visit 
to  the  meetings  within  the  l)ounds  of  Philadelphia  Yearly 
Meeting.  Elias  Avas  attending  the  monthly  meeting  then 
held  in  the  Pine  Street  meeting-house,  and  obtained  liberty 
to  visit  the  women's  meeting-.  While  absent  on  this  concern, 
the  men's  meeting  did  the  unprecedented  thing  of  adjourn- 
ing, the  breaking  up  of  the  meeting  being  accomplished  by 
a  few  influential  members.  For  a  co-ordinate  branch  of  a 
meeting  for  discipline  to  close  while  service  was  being  per- 
formed in  the  allied  branch  in  accord  with  regular  procedure 
was  considered  irregular,  if  not  unwarranted.  The  real 
inspiring  cause  for  this  conduct  has  been  stated  as  follows 
bv  a  contemporary  writer: 

"An  influential  member  of  this  meeting  who  had 
al)stained  from  the  produce  of  slave  labor  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  this  action  was  the  result  of  his  own  will.  He 
therefore  became  very  sensitive  and  irritable  touching  ref- 
erences to  the  slavery  question,  and  very  bitter  a^jainst  the 
testimony  of  Elias  Hicks.  It  is  believed  that  this  was  one 
of  the  causes  which  led  to  the  affront  of  Elias  Hicks  in  the 
Pine  Street  Meeting  aforesaid."  ^ 

It    was   claimed   in   ijie    famous   Xew    Jersev   chancer\- 


'  "A  rc\  icw  uf  llic  general  and  particular  causes  which  have 
prdchiccd  the  late  di.snrders  and  divisions  in  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
Friends,  held  in  Philadelphia,"  James  Cockhnrn,  1829,  p.  60. 

126 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS  127 

case  ■  by  the  Orthodox  Friends,  that  there  was  precedent 
for  adjourning  a  meeting  wliile  a  visiting  minister  in  proper 
t)rder  was  performing  service  in  a  co-ordinate  branch  of  the 
Society.  Be  tliat  as  it  may,  the  weight  of  evidence  warrants 
the  conchision  that  the  incident  at  Pine  Street  was  intended 
as  an  affront  to  EHas  Hicks.  Tlie  conservative  elements  in 
Philadeli)liia  had  e\idently  made  up  their  minds  that  the 
time  had  come  to  visit  tlieir  (hspleasure  upon  the  Long 
Island  preacher. 

The  incident  referred  to  above  must  have  occurred  in 
the  latter  part  of  Tenth  month.  Elias  says  in  his  Journal, 
after  mentioning  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia:  "We  were  at 
two  of  their  monthly  meetings  and  their  quarterly  meet- 
ing." ■'     He  makes  no  mention  of  the  unpleasant  occurrence. 

There  seems  to  have  been  no  further  appearance  of 
trouble  in  the  latitude  of  Philadelphia  until  Eighth  month, 
1822.  This  time  opposition  appeared  in  what  was  evidently 
an  irregular  gathering  of  part  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings, 
At  this  meeting  Jonathan  Evans  is  reported  to  have  said : 
"I  imderstand  that  Elias  Hicks  is  coming  on  here  on  his 
way  to  Baltimore  Yearly  Meeting.  Friends  know  that  be 
preaches  doctrines  contrary  to  the  doctrines  of  our  Society ; 
tliat  he  has  given  uneasiness  to  his  friends  at  home,  and 
tliey  can't  stop  him.  and  unless  we  can  stop  him  here  he 
must  g-o  on."  *  This  statement  was  only  ])artiallv  true,  to 
say  the  most  possible  for  it.     But  a  small  minority  of  Elias' 


•  I'^ostcr's  report,  many  limes  referred  to  in  these  pages,  is  a  two- 
volume  work,  containing  the  evidence  and  the  exliibits  in  a  case  in 
the  New  Jersey  Court  of  Chancer}-.  The  examinations  began  Sixth 
month  2,  1830,  in  Camden.  N.  J.,  before  J.  J.  Foster,  Master  and  Ex- 
aminer in  Chancery,  and  continued  from  time  to  time,  closing  Fourth 
month  13,  183 1.  The  case  was  brought  to  determine  who  should  possess 
the  school  fund,  of  the  Friends'  School,  at  Crosswick,  N.  J.  The 
decision  awarded  the   fund  to  the   Orthodox. 

^  Journal,  p.    t,S2. 

"  "F'oster's  Report,"  pp.  355-356. 


i_'8  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  KLL\S  HICKS 

home  meeting"  were  in  any  way  ''uneasy"  about  liim,  what- 
ever may  have  been  the  character  of  his  preacliin"-.  It 
stands  to  reason  that  had  there  been  a  general  and  united 
opposition  to  the  ministry  of  Ehas  Hicks  in  his  monthly 
meeting  or  in  the  New  York  Yearly  Meeting  at  any  time 
before  the  "separation."  he  could  not  have  performed  the 
service  involved  in  his  religious  visits.  It  will  also  appear 
from  the  foregoing  that  the  few  opponents  of  Elias  Hicks 
on  Long  Island  had  evidently  planned  to  invoke  every 
possible  and  conceival)le  influence,  at  the  center  of  Quak- 
erism in  Philadelphia,  to  silence  this  popular  and  well-known 
preacher.  At  what  point  the  influence  so  disposed  became 
of  general  effect  in  the  polity  of  the  Society  only  incidentally 
belongs  to  the  purpose  of  this  book. 

Out  of  the  unofficial  body  ^  above  mentioned,  about  a 
dozen  in  number,  a  small  and  "select"  committee  was  ap- 
pointed. The  object  was  apparently  to  deal  with  Elias  for 
remarks  said  to  have  been  made  by  him  at  Xew  "^'ork 
Yearlv  Meeting  in  Eifth  uK^nth  of  that  year,  and  re])<>rted 
by  Jose])h  \\'hitall. 

The  minute  under  which  Elias  performed  the  \isit 
referred  to  above  was  granted  by  his  monthly  meeting  in 
Seventh  month,  and  he  promptly  set  out  on  his  \-isit  with 
David  Seaman  as  his  traveling  companion.  He  spent  nearlv 
three  months  visiting  meetings  in  Xew  Jersey  and  in  Bucks, 
Montgomery,  Delaware  and  Chester  Counties,  Pennsylva- 
nia, reaching  Baltimore  the  25th  of  Tenth  month,  where  he 
attended  the  Yearly  Meeting.  This  appearance  and 
service  in  Philadelphia,  he  states  very  briefly,  and  with  m^ 
hint  of  the  developing  trouble,  as  follows : 

"We  arrived  in  Philadelphia  in  the  early  part  of  Twefth 
month,  and  I  immediatelv  entered  on  the  arduous  concern 


"^"Foster's  Report,"  183T,  Vol.  I.     See  testimony  of  Joseph  Whitall, 
p    247.     Also  testimony  of  Abraham  Lower,  pp.  355-356. 


I.IFI-:  AND   LABORS  Ol-'   I-.I.IAS   HICKS  129 

wliicli  J  had  in  prosiject  and  which  1  was  favored  soon  com- 
fortably to  acconij)lish.  We  visited  the  families  composing 
(Ireen  Street  Monthly  Meeting,  being  in  number  one  hun- 
dred and  forty,  and  we  also  attended  that  monthly  meeting 
and  the  monthly  meeting  for  the  Northern  District.  This 
closed  my  visit  here,  and  set  me  at  liberty  to  turn  my  face 
homeward."  ^ 

It  will  thus  be  seen  tlial  the  cliai'gc  of  unsoundness  was 
entered  in  Philadelphia  Meeting  for  Sufferings  soon  after 
h'-lias  started  on  Iiis  soutliern  \isit.  but  the  matter  was  held 
]>ractically  in  sus])cuse  for  four  niontlis.  Tn  tlie  meantime 
I'lias  was  waited  upon  b\'  a  few  elders.  presumal)h'  in 
accordance  with  the  action  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufiferings 
held  in  Eighth  month.  This  opportunitv  was  iiad  when  the 
\isitor  ])asse(l  througli  Pliiladelphia  en  route  to  P)altiniore. 
There  is  reason  for  ])elie\'ing  that  Elias  succeeded  in  meas- 
ureably  satisfying  this  small  committee.  P>ut  there  was  evi- 
dent!)" an  elemeul  in  Philadelphia  that  did  not  propose  to 
be  satisfied. 

In  Twelfth  mouth,  when  Elias  arrived  in  Philadel])hia 
from  his  southern  tri]).  and  began  his  visits  among"  the 
families  of  Green  Street  M(»ntbly  .Meeting,  a  meeting  of  the 
elders  of  all  the  nionthl}'  meetings  in  the  city  was  hastilv 
called.  A  deputation  from  the  elders  sought  an  "oppor- 
tunity" with  Elias.  and  insisted  that  it  be  priz-atc.~  His  posi- 
tion was  that  he  was  not  accountable  to  them  for  anything 
he  had  said  while  traveling  with  a  minute  as  a  minister. 
Elias  finally  consented,  out  of  regard  to  some  particular 
l-'riends,  to  meet  the  elders  in  Green  Street  meeting-house, 
provided  witnesses  other  than  the  opposing  elders  could 
be  present.  Among  those  who  accompanied  Elias  were 
John  Comlv,  Robert  Moore.  John  Moore  and  John  Hunt. 

"Journal,    p.    ,^04 

'  'Toster's  RrpDit."  pji.  350-3^^0.     "Cockburn"?  Review,"  p.  fi6. 

17 


130  IJI-'l-:  AND   I.AROKS  ()!•'  KIJAS   HICKS 

When  the  meeting-  was  lield,  however,  the  elders  who 
o])posed  l'"Has  said  thev  cinild  not  proceed,  their  reason  Ijeinj^' 
that  tlie  i^ritherint^-  was  not  "select."  In  connection  with 
this  controversy  letters  passed  hetween  the  opposing-  jjarties. 
One  was  siij^ied  hv  ten  elders  ot'  Philadelphia,  and  is  as 
follows  : 


"To  Elias  Hicks  : 

"Friends  in  I'hi]adcli)hia  ha\in,L;  for  a  considerahle  time 
[)ast  heard  of  thy  hojdinjj  and  proinuljj^atint^  doctrines  dif- 
ferent from  and  repugnant  to  those  held  by  our  relictions 
society,  it  was  cause  of  uneasiness  and  deep  concern  to 
them,  as  their  sincere  re£,rard  and  enjj^a.tjem'ent  for  the  pro- 
motion of  the  cause  of  Truth  made  it  very  desirable  that  all 
the  members  of  our  reliiirious  society  should  mo\e  in  true 
harmony  under  the  leadino;-  and  direction  of  our  blessed 
K'edeemer.  I'pon  beiuQ  informed  of  thy  sentiments  ex- 
pressed by  Joseph  Whitall — that  Jesus  Christ  was  not  the 
son  of  God  until  after  the  baptism  of  John  and  the  descent 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  that  he  was  no  more  than  a  man; 
that  the  same  power  that  made  Christ  a  Christian  must 
make  us  Christians  ;  and  that  the  same  power  that  saved 
Him  must  save  us — many  friends  were  affected  therewith, 
and  some  time  afterward,  several  Friends  bein^  together  in 
the  city  on  subjects  relating  to  our  religious  society,  they 
received  an  account  from  Ezra  Comfort  of  some  of  thy 
expressions  in  the  public  general  meeting  immediately  suc- 
ceeding the  Southern  Quarterly  Meeting  lately  held  in  the 
state  of  Delaware,  which  was  also  confirmed  by  his  com- 
jjanion,  Isaiah  Bell,  that  Jesus  Christ  was  the  first  man  who 
introduced  the  gospel  dispensation,  the  Jews  being  under 
the  outward  or  ceremonial  law  or  dispensation,  it  was  nec- 
essary that  there  should  be  some  outward  miracle,  as  the 
healing  of  the  outward  infirmities  of  the  flesh  and  raising 
the  outward  dead  bodies  in  order  to  introduce  the  gospel 
dispensation  ;  He  had  no  more  power  given  Hitn  than  man, 
for  He  was  no  more  than  man  ;  He  had  nothing  to  do  with 
the  healing  of  the  soul,  for  that  belongs  to  God  only  ; 
Elisha  had  the  same  power  to  raise  the  dead ;  that  man 
being  obedient  to  the  spirit  of  God  in  him  could  arrive  at 
as  great,  or  a  greater,  degree  of  righteousness  than  Jesus 
Christ:  that  'Jesus  Christ  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  e(|ua] 
with  God;  neither  do  I  think  it  robbery  for  man  to  be  equal 


\.]VK  AND   I.AHORS  OF  EI. IAS  HICKS  131 

with  (it)d";  then  endeavored  to  show  that  by  attending  to 
that  stone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands,  or  the 
seed  in  man,  it  would  make  man  equal  with  God,  saying: 
for  that  stone  in  man  was  the  entire  God.  On  hearing 
which  it  appeared  t(»  h'riends  a  subject  of  sucli  great  im- 
portance and  of  such  deep  welfare  to  the  interest  of  our 
rehgious  society  as  to  require  an  extension  of  care,  in  order 
that  if  any  incorrect  statement  had  been  made  it  should  as 
soon  as  possible  be  rectified,  or,  if  true,  thou  might  be  pos- 
sessed of  the  painful  concerns  of  Friends  and  their  sense 
and  judgment  thereon.  Two  of  the  elders  accordingh 
waited  on  thee  on  the  evening  of  the  day  of  thy  arriving  in 
the  city,  and  although  thou  denied  the  statement,  yet  thy 
declining  to  meet  these  two  elders  in  company  with  those 
who  made  it  left  the  minds  of  Friends  without  relief.  One 
of  the  elders  who  had  called  on  thee  repeated  his  visit  on  the 
next  day  but  one,  and  again  requested  thee  to  see  the  two 
ciders  and  the  Friends  who  made  the  above  statments  which 
thou  again  declined.  The  elders  from  the  different  Monthly- 
Meetings  of  the  city  were  then  convened  and  requested  a 
private  opportunity  with  thee,  which  thou  also  refused,  yet 
the  next  day  consented  to  meet  them  at  a  time  and  place  of 
thy  own  fixing;  but,  when  assembled,  a  mixed  company 
being  collected,  the  elders  could  not  in  this  manner  enter 
into  business  which  they  considered  of  a  nature  not  to  be 
investigated  in  any  other  way  than  in  a  select,  private 
op]Jortunity.  They,  therefore,  considered  that  meeting  a 
clear  indication  of  thy  continuing  to  decline  to  meet  the 
elders  as  by  them  proposed.  Under  these  circumstances,  it 
appearing  that  thou  art  not  willing  to  hear  and  disprove  the 
charges  brought  against  thee,  we  feel  it  a  duty  to  declare 
that  we  cannot  have  religious  unity  with  thy  conduct  nor 
^\•ith  the  doctrines  thou  art  charged  with  promulgating. 
••Signed.  Twelfth  m..nth   10.  1822. 

"Caleb  Pierce. 
"Leonard  Snowden, 
"Joseph   Scattergood, 
"S.  P.  Griffiths, 
"T.   Stewardson, 
"Edward  Randolph, 
"Israel  Mai'le, 
"Ellis  Yarnall. 
"Richard  Hu mph-hls, 
"Thomas  Wester." 


132  IJKK  AND    LABORS  OF  HI.  I  AS  HICKS 

To  this  epistle   h'lias   Micks  made  the   followini;   reply, 
iwo  days  having-   intervened; 

■"I'o  Calkh  Pierce  and  other  Friends: 

" Having  been  charged  hv  \(ni  with  inis(jundness  of 
principle  and  doctrine,  founded  on  reports  spread  among 
the  people  in  an  unfriendly  manner,  and  contrary  to  the 
order  of  our  T^iscipline,  bv  Jose])h  W'hitall.  as  charged  in 
the  letter  from  you  dated  the  19th  instant,  and  as  these 
charges  are  not  literally  true,  being  founded  on  his  own 
forced  and  improper  construction  of  my  words,  I  deny  them, 
and  I  do  nt)t  consider  myself  amenable  to  him,  nor  to  any 
other,  for  crimes  laid  to  my  charge  as  being  committed  in 
the  course  of  the  sittings  of  our  last  Yearly  Meeting,  as  not 
any  of  my  fellow-members  of  that  meeting  discovered  or 
noticed  any  such  thing — which  I  presume  to  be  the  case,  as 
not  an  individual  has  mentioned  any  such  things  to  me, 
but  contrarv  thereto.  ^lany  of  our  most  valued  Friends 
(who  had  heard  some  of  those  foul  reports  first  promul- 
gated by  a  citizen  of  our  city)  acknowledged  the  great  sat- 
isfaction they  had  with  my  services  and  exercise  in  the 
course  of  that  meeting,  and  were  fully  convinced  that  all 
those  reports  were  false  ;  and  this  view  is  fully  confirmed 
l)y  a  certificate  granted  me  by  the  Monthly  and  Quarterly 
Meetings  of  which  I  am  a  member,  in  which  they  expressed 
their  full  unity  with  me — and  which  meetings  were  held  a 
considerable  time  after  our  "S'early  Meeting,  in  the  course 
of  which  Joseph  Whitall  has  presumed  to  charge  me  with 
imsoundness  of  doctrine,  contrary  to  the  sense  of  the 
Monthly,  Quarterly  and  Yearly  ^^leetings  of  which  I  am  a 
member,  and  to  whom  only  do  I  hold  m3^self  amenable  for 
all  conduct  transacted  within  their  limits.  The  other 
charges  made  against  me  by  Ezra  Comfort,  as  expressed  in 
vour  letter,  are  in  general  incorrect,  as  is  proved  by  the 
annexed  certificate;  and.  moreover,  as  Ezra  Comfort  has 
departed  from  gospel  order  in  not  mentioning  his  uneasiness 
to  me  when  present  with  me.  and  when  I  could  have  ap- 
pealed to  Friends  of  that  meeting  to  justify  me;  therefore, 
I  consider  Ezra  Comfort  to  have  acted  disorderly  and  con- 
trary to  the  discipline,  and  these  are  the  reasons  which  in- 
duce me  to  refuse  a  compliance  with  your  requisitions — 
considering  them  arbitrary  and  contrary  to  the  established 
order  of  our  Society. 

"Fltas  IItcks. 

"PiUEADEEi'HFA.    Twelfth  month   2U    i8j2." 


1.1  FK  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  i33 

As  already  noted  tlie  char^-es  in  the  letter  of  the  ten 
elders  were  based  on  statements  made  l>y  Joseph  Whitall, 
snpj)lemented  by  allegations  by  l^zra  Comfort,  as  to  what 
Elias  had  said  in  two  sermons,  neither  of  which  was  deliv- 
ered within  the  bounds  of  Philadelphia  Ouartely  Meeting, 
J'he  matters  complained  of  are  mostly  subject  to  variable 
interpretation,  and  scarcely  attnrtl  a  basis  for  a  religious 
quarrel,  esixxMally  considering  that  the  alleged  statements 
were  at  the  l^est  garbled  from  quite  lengthy  discourses. 

On  the  same  day  that  I^lias  replied  to  the  ten  elders, 
three  members  of  Southern  Quarterly  Meeting  issued  a 
signed  statement  regarding  the  charges  of  Ezra  Comfort. 
It  is  as  follows : 

"We,  the  undersigned,  being  occasionally  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  when  a  letter  was  produced  and  handed  us, 
signed  by  ten  of  its  citizens.  Elders  of  the  Society  of 
briends.  and  directed  to  Elias  Hicks,  after  perusing  and 
deliberately  considering  the  charges  therein  against  him, 
for  holding  and  propagating  doctrines  inconsistent  with  our 
religious  testimonies,  and  more  especially  those  said  by 
Ezra  Comfort  and  Isaiah  P)ell,  to  be  held  forth  at  a  meeting 
immediately  succeeding  the  late  Southern  Quarterly  !Meet- 
ing.  and  we  being  members  of  the  Southern  Quarter,  and 
])resent  at  the  said  meeting,  we  are  free  to  state,  for  the 
satisfaction  of  the  first-mentioned  Friends  and  all  others 
whom  it  may  concern,  that  we  apprehend  the  charges  ex- 
hibited by  the  two  Friends  named  are  without  substantial 
foundation  ;  and  in  order  to  give  a  clear  view  we  think  it 
best  and  proper  here  to  transcribe  the  said  charges  exhib- 
ited and  our  own  understanding  of  the  several,  viz..  'That 
Jesus  Christ  was  the  first  man  that  introduced  the  Gospel 
Dispensation,  the  Jews  being  under  the  outward  and  cere- 
monial law  or  dispensation,  it  was  necessary  there  should 
be  some  outward  miracles,  as  healing  the  outward  infirmi- 
ties of  the  flesh  and  raising  the  outward  dead  bodies  in 
order  to  indroduce  the  gospel  dispensation ;'  this  in  sub- 
stance is  correct.  'That  he  had  no  more  power  given  him 
than  man.'  this  sentence  is  incorrect;  and  also,  'That  he  had 
nothing  to  do  with  the  healing  of  the  soul,  for  that  belongs 
to  God  only."  is  likewise  incorrect;  and  the  next  sentence, 


134  1-iFK  AND   LABORS  OF  EIJAS   nU:KS 

'That  Elisha  also  had  the  same  power  to  raise  the  dead" 
should  be  transposed  thus  to  give  Elias's  expressions.  'By 
the  same  power  it  was  that  Elisha  raised  the  dead.'  'That 
man  being-  obedient  to  the  spirit  of  God  in  him  could  arrive 
at  as  great  or  greater  degree  of  righteousness  than  Jesus 
Christ.'  this  is  incorrect ;  'That  Jesus  Christ  thought  it  not 
robbery  to  be  equal  with  God,'  with  annexing  the  other  part 
of  the  paragraph  mentioned  by  the  holy  apostle  would  be 
correct.  'Neither  do  I  think  it  robbery  for  man  to  be  equal 
with  God'  is  incorrect.  'Then  endeavouring  to  show  that 
by  attending  to  that  stone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without 
hands  or  the  seed  in  man  it  would  make  men  equal  with 
(lod'  is  incorrect;  the  sentence  for  that  stone  in  man  should 
stand  thus:  'That  this  stone  or  seed  in  man  had  all  the 
attributes  of  the  divine  nature  that  was  in  Christ  and  God.' 
This  statement  and  a  few  necessary  remarks  we  make 
without  comment,  save  only  that  we  were  then  of  opinion 
and  still  are  that  the  sentiments  and  doctrines  held  forth 
by  our  said  friend.  Elias  Hicks,  are  agreeable  to  the  opinions 
and  doctrines  held  by  George  Fox  and  other  worthy  Friends 
of  his  time. 

"Robert  IMoore, 
"Thomas  Tih^ner, 
"Joseph  G.  Rowland.  ^ 

"[2  ino.,  2  1,  lS22." 

l^rst  month  4.  1823.  the  ten  elders  sent  a  final  coninin- 
iiication  to  F,lias   Flicks,  which  we  gi\"e  in   full  : 

"On  the  perusal  of  thy  letter  of  the  21st  of  last  month, 
it  was  not  a  little  aiTecting  to  observe  the  same  disposition 
still  prevalent  that  avoided  a  select  meeting  with  the  elders, 
which  meeting  consistently  with  the  station  we  are  placed 
in  and  with  the  sense  of  duty  impressive  upon  us,  we  were 
engaged  to  propose  and  urge  to  thee  as  a  means  wherein 
the  cause  of  uneasiness  might  have  been  investigated,  the 
Friends  who  exhibited  the  complaint  fully  examined,  and 
the  whole  business  placed  in  a  clear  point  of  view. 

"On  a  subject  of  such  importance  the  most  explicit  can- 
dour and  ingenuousness,  with  a  readiness  to  hear  and  eive 


*  "Cocklnirir.s  Rc-vitw,"  p.  73. 


!JFK  AND   LABORS  ')1~  KI.IAS  HICKS  1.35 

complete  satisfaction  oujj;-ht  ever  to  be  maintained ;  this  the 
(jospel  teaches,  and  the  nature  of  the  case  imperiously  de- 
manded it.  As  to  the  certificate  which  accompanied  thy 
letter,  made  several  weeks  after  the  circumstances  occur- 
red, it  is  in  several  respects  not  only  vac^ue  and  ambii^uous, 
but  in  others  (thoui^h  in  different  terms)  it  corroborates  the 
statement  at  first  made.  \\  hen  we  take  a  view  of  the  whole 
subject,  the  doctrines  and  sentiments  which  have  been  pro- 
mult^ated  by  thee,  thouirh  under  some  caution  while  in  this 
city,  and  the  opinions  which  thou  expressed  in  an  interview- 
between  Ezra  Comfort  and  thee,  on  the  19th  ult.,  we  are 
fully  and  sorrowfullv  confirmed  in  the  conclusion  that  thou 
holds  and  art  disseminatinjS;  principles  very  dififerent  from 
those  which  are  held  and  maintained  by  i^ur  relii^ious 
society. 

"As  thou  hast  on  thy  part  closed  the  door  aj^ainst  the 
brotherly  care  and  endeavours  of  the  elders  here  for  thy 
benefit,  and  for  the  clearing:  our  reli|n;ious  profession,  this 
matter  appears  of  such  serious  magnitude,  so  interesting  to 
the  peace,  harmony,  and  well-being  of  society,  that  we  think 
it  ought  to  claim  the  weighty  attention  of  thy  Friends  at 
home."  " 

( )ne  other  conimimicatioii  clc^sed  the  e])istolarv  part  nf 
the  controversy  for  the  time  being.  It  was  a  letter  issued 
by  twenty-two  members  of  Southern  Quarterly  Meeting, 
concerning  the  ministerial  service  of  Elias  Hicks,  during 
the  meetings  referred  to  in  the  charge  of  Ezra  Comfort : 

"W^e,  the  subscribers,  being  informed  that  certain  re- 
ports have  been  circulated  by  Ezra  Comfort  and  Isaiah  Bell 
that  Elias  Hicks  had  propagated  unsound  doctrine,  at  our 
general  meeting  on  the  day  succeeding  our  quarterlv  meet- 
ing in  the  11th  month  last,  and  a  certificate  signed  bv 
Robert  ]\Ioore.  Joseph  Turner  and  Joseph  G.  Rowland  being 
read  contradicting  said  reports,  the  subject  has  claimed  our 
weighty  and  deliberate  attention,  and  it  is  our  united  judg- 
ment that  the  doctrines  preached  by  our  said  Friend  on  the 
day  alluded  to  were  the  Truths  of  the  Gospel,  and  that  his 
labours  of  love  amongst  us  at  our  particular  meetings  as 


'  "Cockburn's  Review,"  p.  76.    As  the  signatures  are  the  same  as  in 
the   previous    letter,   repeating   them   seems    unnecessary. 


135 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS 


well  as  at  our  said  quarterly  meeting-  were  united  with  l>v 
all  i)ur  members  for  aught  that  appears. 

■"And  we  believe  that  the  certificate  signed  by  the  three 
Friends  above  named  is  in  substance  a  correct  statement 
of  facts. 


"Elisha  Daw  .son, 
"William  Dolby, 
"Walter  Mifflin, 
"Daniel  Bowers, 
"William  Levick, 
"Elias  Janell. 
"Jacob  JPexX n i n gt( )N  . 
"Jonathan  Twibond, 
"Henry  Swiggitt, 
"Michael  Offlev, 
"James  Brown, 


George  Messeck, 
William  W.  Mooi^i,, 
John  Cogwill, 
Samuel  Price, 
Robert  Kemp, 
John  Turner, 
Hartfield  Wright, 
David  Wilson, 
Michael  Lowrer, 
JACOB  Liventon, 
John  Cowgill,  Ilnr. 


"Eittle  Crefk,  2  nio.  26th,   182.^." 

"I  hereby  certify  that  I  was  at  the  Southern  Quarterly 
Meeting  in  the  lltli  month  last.  l)ut  owing  to  indisposition 
1  did  not  attend  the  general  meeting  on  the  day  succeeding, 
and  having  been  present  at  several  meetings  with  Elia> 
Hicks,  as  well  as  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  aforesaid.  I  can 
testify  my  entire- unity  with  the  doctrines  I  have  heard  him 
deliver. 

"Anthony  Whitely."  '" 

All  of  these  communicatif^ns,  both  pro  and  con,  are 
jiresented  sitnpl}'  for  what  they  are  worth.  When  it  comes 
to  determining-  what  is  or  is  not  "unsound  doctrine,"  we 
are  simplv  dealing-  with  personal  opinion,  and  not  with 
matters  of  absolute  fact.  This  is  especially  true  of  a  re- 
ligious bodv  that  liad  ne\er  attenij)te(l  to  define  or  limit  its 
doctrines  in  a  written  creed. 

The  attempt  of  the  Philadelphia  elders  to  deal  in  a 
disciplinarv  wav  with  Elias  Hicks  on  the  score  of  the 
manner  or  matter  of  his  preaching  was  pronounced  by  his 


""■Cocklinrn's  Kc\ir\v."'  p.  7S. 


LIFE  AND  LAHURS  OF  FLIAS  HICKS  r.?7 

friends  a  usurpation  of  authority.  It  was  held  that  the 
t'lders  in  question  had  no  jurischction  in  the  case,  in  proof 
of  which  the  following-  parat^'raph  in  the  Disciphne  (d'  tlie 
Philadc'l])lna   N'earlv  Mectin<;"  was  cited; 

"And  our  advice  to  all  our  ministers  is  that  they  he 
frequent  in  reading-  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 
taments ;  and  if  any  in  the  course  of  their  ministry  shall  mis- 
apply or  draw  unsound  inferences  or  wrong-  conclusions 
from  the  text,  or  shall  mishehave  themselves  in  point  of 
conduct  or  conversation,  let  them  be  admonished  in  love 
and  tenderness  bv  the  elders  or  overseers  where  they 
live."  "  ' 

It  is  un(l(nil)ledl\  true  th.at  a  certain  amount  of  encour- 
agement came  to  the  op])onents  of  Julias  flicks  in  Plu'la- 
delphia  from  some  h'riends  on  Long-  Island,  and  frc^m  three 
or  four  residents  of  Jericho,  but  they  did  not  at  tlial  time 
at  least  officially  re])resent  an\  meeting"  of  h'riends  at 
jericlio,  either  real  or  ])retended.  This  far  in  the  cont ro- 
vers)- the  aggressors  were  contined  to  those  wlio  at  that 
time  were  considered  the  "weight  of  the  meeting,"  and  wdio 
at  best  re]iresented  only  the  so-called  "select"  meeting,  and 
not  the  Society  at  large.  At  the  beginning  at  least  the 
trouble  was  an  affair  of  the  ministers  and  elders.  It  later 
affected  the  whole  Society,  l)y  the  efforts  of  the  leaders  on 
both  sides. 

Incidents  are  not  wanting  to  show  that  up  to  the  very 
end  of  the  c<^ntrovers\-  the  rank  and  file  of  Friends  had 
little  \ital  intei-est  in  the  matters  involved  in  the  trouble. 
It  is  related  on  good  authority  that  two  prominent  members 
of  Nine  Partners  Quarterly  Meeting  in  Dutchess  Comity, 
New  ^'ork,  husb.md  and.  wife,  made  a  compact  before 
attending  the  meeting  in   iMghth  month.   i<S2S,  feeling  that 


"  Rules  of   Discipline  of   the  Yearly   Meeting  of  Friends,   held   in 
Philadelphia,   j8o6,  p.  62.  18 


^^S  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS 

the  issue  would  reacli  its  climax  at  that  time.  They  agreed 
that  whiche>'er  side  retained  control  of  the  organization  and 
the  meeting-house  would  be  considered  by  them  the  meet- 
ing, and  receive  their  support.  We  mention  this  as  un- 
doubtedly representing  the  feeling  in  more  than  one  case. 
The  fact  tliat  it  took  practically  a  decade  of  excitement  and 
manipulation,  to  create  the  antagonisms,  personal  and  other- 
wise, which  resulted  in  an  open  rupture,  shows  how  little 
disposed  the  majority  of  Friends  were  to  disrupt  the 
Society. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Time  of  Unsettlement. 

Betwekx  the  trouble  related  in  the  last  chapter  and 
the  culmination  of  the  disturbance  in  the  Society  of  Friends, 
in  1S27-1828.  there  was  an  interval  of  four  or  five  years. 
Tliis  period  was  by  no  means  one  of  quiet.  On  the  other 
hand  it  was  one  of  confusion,  in  the  midst  of  which  the 
forces  were  at  work,  and  the  plans  perfected  which  led 
up  logically  to  the  end. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  last  communication  of 
the  Philadelphia  elders  sent  to  Elias  Hicks  was  dated  First 
month  4,  18J3.  They  had  manifestly  failed  to  silence  the 
])reacher  from  Jericho,  or  to  greatly  alarm  him  with  their 
charges  of  heresy.  Just  eleven  days  after  the  epistle  in 
question  was  written,  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  of  Phila- 
delphia Yearly  Meeting  assembled.  This  meeting  issued  a 
singular  document.  '  said  by  the  friends  of  Elias  Hicks  to 
have  been  intended  as  a  sort  of  ''Quaker  Creed,"  but  this 
was  vigorously  denied  by  those  responsible  for  its  existence. 
The  statement  of  doctrine,  which  was  as  follows,  was  duly 
signed  bv  Jonathan  Evans,  clerk,  "on  behalf  of  the  meet- 
ing:" 

"At  a  Meeting  for  Sufifcrings  held  in  Philadelphia  the 
17th  of  the  First  month,  1823,  an  essay  containing  a  few 
brief  extracts  from  the  writings  of  our  primitive  Friends 
oil  several  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion,  which 
have  been  always  lield,  and  are  most  surely  believed  by  us. 

'The  title  of  the  production  was  as  follows:  Extracts  from  the 
Writings  of  Primitive  Friends,  concerning  the  Divinity  of  Our  Lord 
and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ.  Published  by  the  direction  of  the  Meeting 
for   Sufferings,   held   in    Philadelphia.     Solomon   W.   Conrad,   printer. 

139 


140  I.IKI':  AND    LAHoKS  »  )!•"  KI.IAS   HICKS 

being  pro(liue<l  and  read;  r)n  solid  consideration  Uiey 
appeared  so  likely  to  be  prodiicti\e  of  benefit,  if  a  publica- 
tion thereof  was  made  and  spread  among  our  members 
generally,  that  the  committee  appointed  on  the  printing  and 
distribution  of  religious  books  are  directed  to  have  a  suffi- 
cient luuuber  of  them  struck  off  and  distributed  accordingly, 
being  as   follows  : 

"We  have  always  believed  that  the  Holy  Scriptures 
were  written  by  divine  inspiration,  that  they  are  able  to 
make  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus,  for.  as  holy  men  of  God  spake  as  they  were  moved 
by  the  lloly  (}host,  they  are  therefore  profitable  for  doc- 
trine, for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in  right- 
eousness, that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly 
fiuMiished  unto  all  good  works.  Kut  they  are  not  or  cannot 
1)e  subjected  tc)  the  fallen,  corrupt  reason  of  man.  W'e  have 
always  asserted  our  willingness  that  all  our  doctrines  be 
tried  I)y  them,  and  admit  it  as  a  positix'e  maxim  that  w^hat- 
soever  any  do  (pretending  to  the  vSpirit)  which  is  contrary 
to  the  Scripttu-es  be  accounted  and  judged  a  delusion  of 
the  devil. 

"\\'e  receix'e  and  l)elieve  in  the  testimony  of  the  Scrip- 
tures simply  as  it  stands  in  the  text.  "There  are  three  that 
l)ear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy 
(Ih(xst.  and  these  three  are  one.' 

'■\\'e  believe  in  the  onlv  wise,  omnipotent  and  ever- 
lasting (^od.  the  creator  of  all  things  in  heaven  and  earth, 
and  the  preserver  of  all  that  he  hath  made,  who  is  God 
over  all  blessed  forever. 

"The  infinite  and  most  wise  God.  who  is  the  founda- 
tion, root  and  spring  of  all  operation,  hath  wrought  all 
things  by  his  eternal  W'ord  and  Son.  This  is  that  Word 
that  was  in  the  beginning  with  God  and  was  God.  by  wdiom 
all  things  w^ere  made,  and  wnthout  whom  was  not  anything 
made  that  was  made.  Jesus  Christ  is  the  beloved  and  only 
begotten  Son  of  God,  wdio,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  through 
the  Holy  Ghost,  was  conceived  and  born  of  the  \"irgin 
Alary  ;  in  him  we  have  redemption  through  his  blood,  even 
the  forgiveness  of  sins.  W'^e  believe  that  he  was  made  a 
sacrifice  for  sin,  who  knew^  no  sin ;  that  he  was  crucified  for 
us  in  the  flesh,  was  buried  and  rose  again  the  third  day  by 
the  power  of  his  Father  for  our  justification,  ascended  up 
into  heaven  and  now  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God. 

"As  then  that  infinite  and  incomprehensible   Fountain 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  EIJAS  lUCKS  141 

of  life  and  motion  operateth  in  the  creatures  by  his  own 
eternal  word  and  power,  so  no  creatnre  has  access  again 
unto  him  but  in  and  by  the  Son  according  to  his  own 
blessed  declaration,  'No  man  knoweth  the  Father  but  the 
Son,  and  he  to  whom  the  Son  will  reveal  him.'  Again,  'I 
am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life ;  no  man  cometh  unto 
the  Father  but  by  me.'  Hence  he  is  the  only  Mediator 
between  God  and  man  for  having  been  with  God  from  all 
eternity,  being  himself  God,  and  also  in  time  partaking  of 
the  nature  of  man  ;  through  him  is  the  goodness  and  love  of 
God  conveyed  to  mankind,  and  by  him  again  man  receiveth 
and  partaketh  of  these  mercies. 

"We  acknowledge  that  of  ourselves  we  are  not  able  to 
vlo  anything  that  is  good,  neither  can  we  procure  remission 
of  sins  or  justification  by  any  act  of  our  own,  but  acknowl- 
edge all  to  be  of  and  from  his  love,  which  is  the  original 
and  fundamental  cause  of  our  acceptance.  'For  God  so 
loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son  that 
whosoever  helieveth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
^everlasting  life.' 

"We  firmly  believe  it  was  necessary  that  Christ  should 
come,  that  by  his  death  and  sufferings  he  might  offer  up 
himself  a  sacrifice  to  God  for  our  sins,  who  his  own  self 
bear  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree;  so  we  believe 
that  the  remission  of  sins  which  any  partake  of  is  only  in 
and  by  virttie  of  that  most  satisfactory  sacrifice  and  no 
otherwise.  For  it  is  by  the  obedience  of  that  one  that  the 
free  gift  is  come  upon  all  to  justification.  Thus  Christ  by 
his  death  and  sufferings  hath  reconciled  us  to  God  even 
while  we  are  enemies  ;  that  is,  he  offers  reconciliation  to 
us,  and  we  are  thereby  put  into  a  capacity  of  being  recon- 
ciled. God  is  willing  to  be  reconciled  unto  us  and  ready 
to  remit  the  sins  that  are  past  if  we  repent. 

"Jesus  Christ  is  the  intercessor  and  advocate  with  the 
Father  in  heaven,  appearing  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us, 
being  touched  v\'ith  a  feeling  of  our  infirmities,  sufferings, 
and  sorrows;  and  also  by  his  spirit  in  our  hearts  he  maketh 
intercession  according  to  the  will  of  God,  crying  abba, 
Father.  He  tasted  death  for  every  man,  shed  his  blood  for 
all  men,  and  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins ;  and  not  for 
ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.  He 
alone  is  our  Redeemer  and  Saviour,  the  captain  of  our  sal- 
vation, the  promised  seed,  who  bruises  the  serpent's  head ; 
the  alpha  and  omega,  the  first  and  the  last.  He  is  our 
wisdom,      righteousness,      justification      and      redemption; 


I4-'  MFE  AND  LABORS  OI-    KLIAS  HICKS 

neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other,  for  there  is  no  other 
name  under  heaven  given  amonij^  men  whereby  we  may  be 
saved. 

"As  he  ascended  far  above  all  heavens  that  he  might 
hll  all  things,  his  fulness  cannot  be  comprehended  or  con- 
tained in  any  finite  creature,  but  in  some  measure  known 
and  experienced  in  us,  as  we  are  prepared  to  receive  the 
same,  as  of  his  fulness  we  have  received  grace  for  grace. 
He  is  both  the  word  of  faith  and  a  quickening  spirit  in  us, 
wdiereby  he  is  the  immediate  cause,  author,  object  and 
strength  of  our  living  faith  in  his  name  and  power,  and  of 
the  work  of  our  salvation  from  sin  and  bondage  of  cor- 
ruption. 

"The  Son  of  God  cannot  be  divided  from  the  least  or 
lowest  appearance  of  his  owm  divine  light  or  life  in  us,  no 
more  than  the  sun  from  its  own  light ;  nor  is  the  sufficiency 
of  his  light  within  set  up  or  mentioned  in  opposition  to 
him,  or  to  his  fulness  considered  as  in  himself  or  without 
us ;  nor  can  any  measure  or  degree  of  light  received  from 
Christ  be  properly  called  the  fulness  of  Christ ;  or  Christ 
as  in  fulness,  nor  exclude  him  from  being  our  complete 
Saviour.  And  where  the  least  degree  or  measure  of  this 
light  and  life  of  Christ  within  is  sincerely  waited  in,  fol- 
lowed and  obeyed  there  is  a  blessed  increase  of  light  and 
grace  known  and  felt;  as  the  path  of  the  just  it  shines  more 
and  more  imtil  the  perfect  day,  and  thereby  a  growing  in 
grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  God  and  of  our  Lord  and 
Savicmr  Jesus  Christ  hath  been  and  is  truly  experienced. 

"\Mierefore  we  say  that  whatever  Christ  then  did,  both 
living  and  dying,  was  of  great  benefit  to  the  salvation  of  all 
that  have  believed  and  now  do  and  that  hereafter  shall 
l)elieve  in  him  unto  justification  and  acceptance  with  God: 
but  the  way  to  come  to  that  faith  is  to  receive  and  obey 
the  manifestation  of  his  divine  light  and  grace  in  the  con- 
science, which  leads  men  to  believe  and  value  and  not  to 
disown  or  undervalue  Christ  as  the  common  sacrifice  and 
mediator.  For  we  do  afiirm  that  to  follow  this  holy  light 
in  the  conscience  and  to  turn  our  minds  and  bring  all  our 
deeds  and  thoughts  to  it  is  the  readiest,  nay.  the  only  right 
way,  to  have  true,  living  and  sanctifying  faith  in  Christ  as 
he  appeared  in  the  flesh  ;  and  to  discern  the  Lord's  body, 
coming  and  sufl^erings  aright,  and  to  receive  any  real  benefit 
bv  him  as  our  onlv  sacrifice  and  mediator,  according  to  the 
beloved  disciple's  emphatical  testimony.  'If  we  walk  in  the 
li'dit   as  he    (("lod)    is  in   the  light   we  have  fellowship  one 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  EIJAS  HICKS  143 

with    another,    and    the    blood    of    Jesus    Christ    his    son 
cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.' 

"By  the  proi)itiatory  sacrifice  of  Christ  without  us  we, 
truly  repenting:  and  believinj^,  as  through  the  mercy  of 
God,  justified  from  the  imputation  of  sins  and  transgres- 
sions that  are  past,  as  though  they  had  never  been  com- 
mitted ;  and  by  the  mighty  work  of  Christ  within  us  the 
power,  nature  and  habits  of  sin  are  destroyed;  that  as  sin 
once  reigned  unto  death  even  so  now  grace  reigneth 
through  righteousness  unto  eternal  life  bv  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.""- 

This  deliverance  is  almost  as  theological  and  dogmatic 
as  the  Westminster  Confession.  It  scarcely  contains  a 
reference  to  the  ftmdamental  doctrine  of  George  Fox.  It 
is  not  too  much  to  say  that  if  it  was  the  belief  of  the 
■'primitive""  Friends,  there  was  little  reason,  touching  points 
of  doctrine,  for  the  preaching  of  Fox,  or  the  first  gathering 
of  the  Society.  All  the  ground  covered  by  this  doctrinal 
statement  was  amply  treated  in  the  Articles  of  Religion  of 
the  Church  of  England,  and  the  Confession  of  the 
Presbyterians. 

The  abo\e  document  was  issued  without  quotation 
marks,  or  any  indication  as  to  what  "})rimitive"'  Friends 
were  responsible  for  the  sentiments  contained  in  its  various 
parts.  By  careful  examination  it  will  be  seen  that  one 
sentence,  at  least,  is  from  Barclay's  Apology,  "but  it  proves 
to  be  a  garbled  quotation."  We  refer  to  the  following 
sentence  in  the  second  paragraph  in  the  above  article,  re- 
lating to  the  Scriptures  :  "But  they  are  not  or  cannot  be 
subjected  to  the  fallen,  corrupt  reason  <if  man.""  l^)arclay's 
complete  statement  is  here  given : 

"Yet,  as  the  proposition  itself  concludeth,  to  the  last 
l)art  of  which  I  now  come,  it  will  not  from  thence  follow 
that  these  divine  revelations  are  to  be  subjected  to  the 
examination  either  of  the  outward  testimony  of  Scripture 
or  of  the  human  or  natural  reason   of  man,  as  to  a  more 

^''The  Friend,  or  Advocate  of  Truth,"  Vol.  I,  pp.  152-154. 


144  r.IFF.  AND   LABORS  OF  FLIAS   ITTCKS 

noble  and  certain  rule  or  touchstone;  for  the  divine  revela- 
tion and  inward  illumination  is  that  which  is  evident  by 
itself,  forcing  the  well-disposed  understanding  and  irre- 
sistibly moving  it  to  assent  by  its  own  evidence  and  clear- 
ness, even  as  the  common  principles  of  tiatural  truths  to 
bend  the  mind  to  a  natural  assent."  ^ 

It  u  ill  he  seen  clciriy  that  the  reference  in  the  docurneiit 
issued  by  the  ]\Iceting  for  Suiierings  was  not  onl}'  a  mis- 
quotation trnni  Barclay,  l)ut  also  misrepresented  his  mean- 
ing'. The  latter  is  particularly  true  if  we  refer  to  the  to]; 
of  the  same  i)age  that  contains  the  above  extract,  where  he 
says:  "So  would  T  not  have  any  reject  or  doubt  the 
certainty  of  that  unerring  Spirit  which  (jod  hath  given  his 
children  as  that  Avhich  can  alone  guide  them  into  all  truth, 
because  some  have  falsely  ])retended  to  it."  *  It  will  thus 
appear  clear  that  Elias  Hicks,  and  not  the  Meeting  for 
Sufferings,  was  supported  by  Barclay. 

The  reference  in  the  third  paragraph  in  tlie  foregoing 
"(leclaratic:n"  to  the  ""three  that  bear  record  in  heaven"  is 
a  cjuotation  from  1  b>hn  ?:7.  It  is  entirely  omitted  from 
the  Revised  Aversion,  and  thorotigh  scholars  in  the  early 
vcars  of  tlie  nineteenth  century  were  convinced  that  the 
passage   A\as   an    interpolation. 

The  statement  of  belief  prei)ared  by  the  Meeting  for 
Sufferings  was  not  approved  by  the  Yearly  Meeting,  so  noth- 
ing was  reallv  accomplished  by  the  comi)ilation,  if  such  it 
was. 

Considering  the  order  of  the  e\'ents  recorded,  it  is  hard 
not  to  conceive  that  the  attempt  to  promulgate  a  "declara- 
tion of  faith"  bv  the  Yearly  Meeting  was  really  intended  for 
persotial  a])plicati(m  to  Elias  Hicks.  Had  the  plan  suc- 
ceeded, the  elders  could  easily  have  attetnpted  to  silence  the 


^  "Barclay's  .Apology."     Edition  of  Friends'  Book  Store,  304  Arch 
Street,  Philadelphia.  1877,  p.  68. 

*  "'Barclay's  .Apology."     Edition  of  1877,  p.  68. 


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LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLXS  HICKS  145 

Jericho  preacher  in  Pliihidelphia.  on  tlie  ground  that  he  was 
"nnsfuind"  toucliing-  the  doctrine  promulgated  hy  the  Yearly 
.Meetini,^ 

Tlie  task  of  detailing-  all  of  the  doings  of  this  period 
would  he  too  difticuh  and  distasteful  to  he  fully  recorded  in 
this  hook.  That  the  unfriendl)-  conduct  was  hy  no  means 
all  on  one  side  is  ])ain fully  true.  Still,  as  the  determination 
of  the  Philadel])hia  elders  to  deal  with  Elias  Hicks,  and 
stoj)  his  ministry  if  possihle.  was  continued,  the  effort  cannot 
he  ignored. 

In  h'irst  month.  1)^25.  the  elders  presenterl  a  charge  of 
unsoundness  against  Elias  Hicks  in  the  Preparati\e  ]\leet- 
ing  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  the  intent  heing  to  have  the 
charge  forwarded  to  the  monthly  meeting,  hut  this  action 
was  not  taken.  With  phenomenal  persistence  one  of  the 
elders  introduced  the  suhject  in  the  monthly  meeting,  and 
secured  the  apj^ointment  of  a  committee  to  im-estigate  the 
merits  of  the  case.  This  committee  made  a  re]:)ort  un- 
fa\orahle  to  Elias  Ilicks.  which  report,  his  friends  claimed 
was  impro])erly  enterefl  on  the  minutes.  .\  vigorous.  l)ut 
h\'  no  means  a  united  effort  was  made  to  get  this  report 
forwarded  to  Jericho  Monthly  Meeting',  hut  this  failed. 
One  of  the  incidents  of  this  attempt  against  Elias  Hicks  was 
the  disownment  of  a  meml)er  of  the  Northern  District 
Monthly  Meeting,  f(^r  remarks  made  in  W'estern  District 
^Monthly  Meeting.  The  rejjort  of  the  committee  against 
Elias  was  under  consideration,  when  the  visitor  arose  and 
said  :  "If  it  he  understood  hy  the  report — if  it  set  forth  and 
declare,  that  Elias  Hicks,  the  last  time  he  was  in  this  house, 
])reached  doctrines  contrary'  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  or  con- 
trru'v  to  our  first  or  primitive  Friends,  heing  present  at  that 
time.  I  stand  here  as  a  witness  that  it  is  utterl\-  false."  ^ 
Although  this  Friend  was  disowned  l)y  his  monthl}-  meet- 

'■  "Ci  ckhiini's  Review."  p.  95,  19 


146  IJFI-:  AND  LABORS  OF  KLIAS  HICKS 

iiijj,-  he  was  reinstated  by  the  Quarterly  Meeting.  It  should 
he  said  that  the  report  of  unsoun<hiess  referred  to.  con- 
tained this  specific  charge:  "We  apprehend  that  EHas 
Hicks  expressed  sentiments  inconsistent  with  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  the  religious  ])rincip]es  our  Society  has  held 
from  its   first   rise." 

The  troul)le  in  Philadeli)hia  was  renewed  in  an  ag- 
gravated form  in  \'\rs\  month.  1827  when  Elias  Hicks  ap- 
peared in  the  city  on  another  religious  visit.  Of  course 
the  atmos]>here  had  been  charged  with  all  sorts  of  attacks 
regarding  the  x'enerable  preacher.  L'ndcr  such  conditions 
no  special  advertising  was  necessary  to  get  a  crowd.  The 
populace  was  curious,  not  a  few  wanted  to  hear  and  see. 
for  themselves,  this  man  about  whom  so  many  charges  had 
])een  made.  As  a  matter  of  course  the  meeting-houses 
were  crowded  beyc^nd  their  capacity.  It  was  alleged  by 
Orthodox  Friends  that  the  meetings  were  disorderly,  which 
may  have  been  literally  true.  But  the  tumult  was  increased 
b\-  injecting  an  element  of  controversy,  into  the  First-day 
afternoon  meeting  in  Western  meeting-house,  on  the  part 
of  an  Orthodox  elder.  All  the  evidence  goes  to  show  that 
Elias  attempted  to  qniet  the  tumult.  He  seems  to  have  been 
willing  to  accord  liberty  of  expression  to  his  opponents. 
The  matter  was  taken  into  Western  Monthly  Meeting,  a 
committee  entering  the  following  charge:  "That  a  large 
and  disorderly  concourse  of  people  were  brought  together, 
at  an  unseasonable  hour,  and  under  circumstances  that 
strongly  indicated  a  design  to  preoccupy  the  house  to  the 
exclusion  of  most  of  the  members  of  our  meeting,  and  to 
suppress  in  a  riotous  manner  any  attempt  that  might  be 
made  to  maintain  the  doctrine  and  principles  of  our  religious 
societv.  in  opposition  to  the  views  of  Elias  Hicks."  ® 


"  "Ci^ckhnrn's    Ki  \ic\\ , 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  147 

1^lie  literal  truthfulness  of  this  charge  in  every  particu- 
lar may  he  at  least  mildly  Cfuestioned.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered that  of  the  Friends  in  Philadel])hia  at  that  time,  the 
Orthodox  were  a  minority  of  about  ojie  to  three.  The 
majority  of  Friends  felt  that  much  of  the  trouble  was  per- 
sonal, and  they  undoubtedly  flocked  to  hear  the  traduced 
preacher.  The  (nitside  crowd  that  came  could  not  right- 
fully or  wisely  have  been  kept  from  attending  public  meet- 
mgs.  Both  parties  had  been  sowing  to  the  wind,  and 
neither  could  validly  object  to  the  whirlwind  that  inevitably 
came.  Still  Western  Monthly  Meeting  proposed  to  deal 
with  a  visiting  minister  from  another  yearly  meeting,  on 
points  of  doctrine,  and  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  arbi- 
trary |)roceedings  of  this  sort  had  quite  as  much,  if  not 
more,  to  do  with  kindling  the  fires  of  "separation,"  as  the 
preaching  of  Elias  Hicks. 

Rapidly  the  trouble  ran  back  to  the  opi>osition  raised 
by  the  elders  in  1822.  Eventually  Green  Street  Monthly 
Meeting  l)ecame  the  center  of  Society  difficulty.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  in  the  year  last  written  that  monthly  meet- 
ing had  enjoyed  a  family  visitation  from  Elias  Hicks,  and 
had  subsequently  given  him  a  minute  of  approval.  After 
this  one  of  the  elders,  who  acquiesced  in  this  action,  joined 
the  other  nine  in  written  disapproval  of  Elias  Hicks.  The 
maj(^r  portion  of  the  monthly  meeting  proposed  to  take 
the  inconsistent  conduct  of  this  elder  under  care,  and  the 
matter  was  handed  over  to  the  overseers.  In  thus  hastily 
invoking  the  discipline,  Green  Street  Monthly  Meeting  made 
an  apparent  error  of  judgment,  even  admitting  that  the 
spirit  of  the  transaction  was  not  censurable.  This  lirought 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  precipitously 
into  the  case.  Finally  Green  Street  Monthly  Meeting  re- 
leased the  Friend  in  question  from  his  station  as  elder.  A 
question  arose  on  which  there  was  a  sharp  discussion  as  to 


148  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

whether  elders  were  independent  of  the  overseers  in  tlic 
exercise  oi  their  (ifticial  (Uities.  A  loni;'  line  nt  conduct  fol- 
lowed, tinally  resulting'  in  the  Quarterly  Meeting;-  of 
Ministers  and  Elders  sendins^-  a  report  to  the  q-eneral 
quarterly  meetino-,  amounting-  to  a  remonstrance  against 
Green  Street  Monthly  Meeting.  This  aiJi)eared  to  he  a 
violation  of  Disci])line.  which  said:  ".\'one  of  the  said 
meetings  of  ministers  and  elders  are  in  anywise  to  interfere 
with  the  husiness  i)f  any  meeting  for  discii)line."  '  These 
matters,  with  the  remonstrance  of  the  released  (ireen  Street 
elder,  would  therefore  seem  to  ha\e  heen  irregularly  hrought 
before  the  (juarterK-  meeting.  It  was  claimed  by  the  friends 
of  Elias  Hicks  that  he  had  broken  n<  i  rule  of  discipline:  that 
the  charge,  that  he  held  "sentiments  inconsistent  with  the 
Scriptitres.  and  the  ])rinciples  of  Friends."  was  \ague  as  to 
its  matter,  and  pureK'  ])ersonal  as  to  the  manner  of  its  cir- 
culation. Up  to  tliis  point  it  shdulil  be  remembered,  tlie 
contro\'ersv  was  almost  entirely  centered  on  Elias  Hicks. 

This  matter  dragged  along,  a  source  of  constant  dis- 
ttu'bance.  a])])earing  in  perha])s  a  new  form  in  the  Quarterly 
jMeeting-  of  Ministers  and  Elders  in  Eighth  month,  i8jC). 
The  immediate  acticMi  involved  api)ointing  a  committee  to 
assist  the  Preparatixe  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  FJders  of 
Green  Street  Monthly  Meeting,  the  assumed  necessity  in 
the  case  being  the  reported  unsoundness  of  a  Green  Street 
minister,  a  charge  to  this  effect  having  been  preferred  by 
one  member  onl\-.  Idie  situation,  however,  caused  an  abate- 
ment in  answering  the  (|uery  relating  to  lo\e  and  unity. 
While  these  transactions  were  going  on  among  the  ministers 
and  elders.  Green  Street  Monthly  Meeting  took  action  wliich 
remo\ed  two  of  its  elders  from  that  station  in  tlie  Society. 
The  two  (le])osed  elders  took  their  griexances  to  the  general 


'  Rnlc«   (if    Discipline   of   the   Ye;irly    Meeting   nf    l->ien(L.   Iield 
Pliiladelphia,    1806,   p.   67. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL\S  HICKS  149 

quarterly  meeting.  While  the  quarterly  meeting  would  not 
listen  to  a  statement  of  grievances,  yet  a  committee  to  go 
over  the  whole  case  was  appointed.  The  committee  thus 
appointed,  without  waiting  an}'  action  l)y  the  quarterly  meet- 
ing, transformed  the  removal  of  the  aggrieved  elders  into 
an  ai:)peal,  rnid  then  demanded  that  Green  Street  Alonthly 
Meeting  turn  over  to  that  committee  all  the  minutes  relating 
to  the  case  of  the  two  elders.  This  the  Green  Street  Meet- 
ing  refused  to  do.  Although  the  case  bad  never  been  be- 
fore the  f]uarterlv  meeting,  tlie  committee  r)t  in(|uiry  re- 
ported to  the  full  meeting,  that  all  of  the  action  of  (ireen 
Street  Monthlv  Meeting  relating  to  the  tW(T  elders  slioul<l 
be  annulled.  It  was  claimed  that,  by  virtue  of  the  leader- 
ship which  the  Orthodox  had  in  the  (juarterly  meeting,  a 
])recedent  had  been  established  which  gave  committees  the 
right  to  exceed  the  power  conferred  upon  them  by  the  meet- 
ing which  ap])ointed  them.  The  committee  had  not  been 
a])pointed  to  decide  a  case,  but  to  investigate  a  complaint, 
h^ollowing  this  experience,  after  much  WM-angTmg.  and 
in  the  midst  of  manifest  disunit}-.  and  against  what  it  was 
'claimed  was  the  manifest  opposition  of  the  major  portion 
of  the  meeting,  the  quarterly  meeting  in  Eleventh  month, 
1826.  appointed  a  committee  to  visit  the  monthly  meetings. 
This  committee  was  manifestly  one-sided,  but  could  ha\'e  no 
possible  disciplinarv  service  from  extending  brotherly  care. 
Xevertheless  at  the  quarterly  meeting  in  Fifth  month,  1827, 
this  committee,  for  ]M-esunied  gospel  labor,  reported  that  the 
large  Green  Street  Monthly  Meeting  sliould  be  laid  down, 
and  its  members  attached  to  the  Xorthern  District  Monthly 
Meeting.  It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  any  argument 
as  to  the  right  of  a  (piarterly  meeting,  under  our  s\-stem.  to 
lav  down  an  acti\e  monthly  meeting,  without  that  meeting's 
consent.  1  he  laving  down  of  Green  Street  ^^(^nthly  Meet- 
ing followed  the  "separation''  in  tlie  yearly  meeting.  It 
--liould  ])e  said  that   in   Secnd   niontli,    iXjj,   (ireen   Street 


tso  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELI  AS  HICKS 

Monthly  Meeting,  attempted  to  secure  consent  from  the 
quarterly  meeting-  to  transfer  itself  to  Abington  Quarterly 
Meeting,  and  subsequently  this  was  done. 

The  claim  was  made,  and  with  some  show  of  reason, 
that  the  various  lines  of  conduct  taken  against  (rreen  Street 
Monthly  Meeting,  were  incited  by  a  desire  to  punish  this 
meeting  for  its  friendl}'  interest  in   Elias  Hicks. 

We  are  rapidly  approaching  the  point  where  the  So- 
ciety troubles  in  Pliiladelphia  ceased  to  directly  relate  to 
Elias  Hicks.  It  will  be  remembered  that  there  was  trouble 
touching  the  preaching  of  Elias  coming  by  way  of  Southern 
Quarterly  Meeting  in  1822.  The  facts  indicate  that  a  ma- 
jority of  that  meeting  was  quite  content  to  let  matters  rest. 
It  seems,  however,  that  two  members  of  the  Meeting  for 
Sufferings  from  that  quarter  had  misrepresented  their  con- 
stituency in  the  Hicks  controversy.  Therefore  in  1826 
that  quarterly  meeting  discontinued  the  service  of  the  t^o 
members  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  supplying  their 
places  with  new  appointments.  This  action  was  objected 
to  by  the  full  meeting,  the  majority  holding  that  members 
could  not  have  their  service  discontinued  by  the  constituent 
bodies  which  appointed  them.  An  attempt  was  made  to 
convince  Southern  Quarterly  Meeting  that  it  was  improper 
and  illegal  to  appoint  new  representatives,  if  the  old  ones 
were  willing  to  serve.  It  was  also  claimed  that  it  was 
"never  intended  to  release  the  representatives  from  a 
quarterly  meeting  to  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  except  at 
their  own  request."  ^  Surely  the  Discipline  then  operative 
gave  no  warrant  for  such  an  inference.®  Assuming  that 
the  above  contention  was  valid,  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings 


"  "Cockbiirn's   Review,"  p.    T70. 

"Rules  of    Discipline   of   the    Yearly    MeetivLj  of    I'Vieufi'-,    held    in 
Pliiladelphia,   t8o6.   p.   54-55. 


LIFE  AND  LAHORS  OK  EI.IAS  lUCKS  xsi 

would  simply  ha\e  become  a  small  hierarchy  in  the  Society, 
never  to  he  dissolved,  except  at  its  own  request. 

ft  would  seem,  howex'er,  that  the  rules  govennni;  the 
JMeetiui;"  tor  Sutler ins^s  were  especially  made  to  i^uard 
;ii^'ainst  just  sucli  an  exercise  of  ])ower  as  lias  been  men- 
tioned, rhe  l)isci[)rme  under  the  heachnt;-,  "Meetiui^"  for 
SulTerin^s,"  contained  this  pro\ision  :  '"The  said  meeting" 
is  not  to  meddle  with  an}-  matter  of  faith  or  discipline, 
which  has  not  been  determined  l)v  the  yearly  meeting,"  '" 
This  will  make  it  ])lain  why  there  was  such  an  anxiet}'  that 
the  statement  of  doctrine  issued  in  [(Sj:^,"  sh.ould  l)e  en- 
dorsed by  the  yearly  meeting,  and  when  that  failed,  how 
utterly  the  statement  was  without  authoritv  or  binding  force 
on  the  Societ}'  in  general  or  its  members  in  particular. 

'"  Tlir    ^amc.   p.    33. 

".See    patfc    i.?(|    (if    iliis   Ixink. 


CHAPTER  XVI  r. 

Three  Sermons  Reviewed. 

We  hav^e  reached  the  point  where  it  would  seem  in 
order  to  consider  the  matter  contained  in  S(^me  of  the  ser- 
?nons  preached  by  Eh'as  Hicks,  in  order  to  determine,  if  we 
can,  what  there  was  about  the  matter  or  the  manner  of 
his  ministry,  which  contributed  to  the  controx'ersy,  per- 
sonal and  theol(\<iical,  «hich  for  several  years  (h'sturbed  the 
Society  of  Friends. 

The  tnuible  was  initiated,  and  for  sonie  time  agitated. 
h\-  comparatively  few  i)eopfe.  Two  or  three  h'riends  l)e5;an 
talkin-;-  about  what  Elias  said,  from  memory.  Eater  they 
took  ktiii^-hand  notes  of  his  sermons,  in  either  case  using; 
isolated  and  (h'sc(^nnected  sentences  and  expressions.  Taken 
from  their  association  with  the  l)alance  of  the  sermon,  and 
pas.sed  from  mouth  to  mouth  by  critics,  they  assumed  an  ex- 
ag-o-eraled  importance,  and  sto(xI  out  boldly  as  centers  of 
contro\ersy. 

All  of  the  evidence  goes  to  show  that  little  attempt  was 
made  to  g'i\'e  printed  publicity  to  these  discourses,  until  the 
preacher  had  been  made  famous  by  the  warmth  and  extent  of 
the  controversy  over  the  character  of  his  preaching. 

A  \'olume  of  twehe  sermons  preached  1)\'  I^lias  Hicks 
at  \arious  points  in  Pennsyhania  in  |S_'4  was  published  the 
following  vcar  in  Phila(lel]:)hia  b\-  Joseph  and  luhvard 
Parker.  These  discourses  were  taken  in  short-liand  by 
Marcus  T.  C.  (iould.  Two  years  later,  in  icSjj,  ( iould  be- 
gan the  publication  of  "The  Quaker."  which  contained  ser- 
mons bv  Elias.  and  a  few  otlier  ministers  in  the  Society. 
In  his  advertisement  of  the  first  volume  of  this  publication. 
after  stating  the  fact  of  the  controversy  which  was  rapidly 


\AFK  AND    LABORS   OF   l-M.IAS   lilCKS  153 

diNidin^-  the  Sucictx    ot"   l'"i"icii<l>  in  iwo  (.•Dntendni'^   i)ariic>. 
Gould  sa\"s : 

"A  I  this  important  crisis,  the  ie])iirlcr  and  ])r(  iprictor  ol" 
the  following  work  was  employed  hy  the  joint  consent  ol 
both  parties,  to  record  in  meeting'  the  s])eeches  of  the  indi- 
\'idual  whose  doctrines  were  ])\  some  ])r(tnonnced  sonnd. 
and  by  others  unsound.  Since  that  period  he  has  continued 
to  recorcl  the  languag'e  of  the  same  speaker,  an<l  others  who 
stand  hii^h  as  ministers  in  the  Societ}'.  and  the  mend)ers 
have  continued  to  read  his  re])orts.  as  the  only  way  of 
arrivin<>"  at  the  truth,  in  relation  to  discourses  whicli  were 
\ariously  represented." 

It  is  not  our  pur])o>(.'  in  this  clia])ler  to  o-i\-c  sermons 
or  parts  of  sermons  in  detail.  On  the  other  haml.  tt)  simply 
review  a  few  of  these  discourses  as  samples,  because  at  the 
time  of  their  deliver}-  thev  called  out  opposition  from  Ortho- 
(lo.x  Friends.  It  may  be  fairly  inferred  that  they  contained 
in  whole  or  in  |)art  the  points  of  doctrinal  offendint^'  in  the 
estimation  of  the  critics  of  Elias  Hicks. 

The  first  of  the  series  of  sermons  especialb  under  re- 
view, was  delixered  in  the  Pine  Street  meeting'  house.  Phila- 
delphia, Twelfth  month  \o.  rSjf).  At  the  conclusion  of  this 
sermon  Jonathan  E\ans  arose,  and  spoke  substantially  as 
follows  : 

"I  beliexe  it  to  be  ri^ht  for  me  to  say.  that  <inr  Society 
has  always  believed  in  the  atonement,  mediation,  and  inter- 
cession of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ — that  by  him 
all  things  were  created,  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  both  visible 
and  invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones,  principalities,  or 
powers. 

'AVe  believe  that  all  things  were  created  by  him.  and 
for  him  :  and  that  he  was  before  all  things,  and  that  by  him 
all  things  consist.  And  any  doctrine  which  goes  _  to  in- 
validate these  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion we  cannot  admit,  nor  do  we  hold  ourselves  account- 
able for. 

"Great  efforts  are  making  to  make  the  people  believe 
that  Tesus  Christ  was  no  more  than  a  man,  but  we  do  not 

20 


154  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF   I-IIJAS   HICKS 

Iielieve  any  s'uch  tiling",  nor  can  we  receive  any  such  doc- 
trine, or  any  thing  wliicli  goes  to  inculcate  such  an  idea. 

"\\*e  believe  him  to  be  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of 
lords,  before  whose  judgment  seat  every  soul  shall  be  ar- 
raigned and  judged  by  him.  W'e  do  not  conceive  him  to 
be  a  mere  man  ;  and  we  therefore  desire,  that  people  may 
Jiot  suppose  that  we  hold  any  such  doctrines,  or  that  we 
hr.vc  any  tmity  wath  them.'' 

Isaac  Lloyd  said:  "I  unite  w  itli  bmathan  Evans — we 
never  have  believed  that  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour, 
Jesus  Christ,  came  to  the  Jews  onlv;  for  he  was  given  for 
God's  salvation,  to  tlie  ends  of  the  earth."  ' 

r<>  these  doctrinal  statements  Elias  Hicks  added:  "I 
ha\c  spoken;  and  1  lea\'e  it  for  the  peo])le  to  judge — I  do 
not  assume  the  judgment  seat." 

It  may  be  informing  in  this  connection  t<i  examine  this 
sermon  somewhat  in  detail,  to  see  if  we  can  find  the  definite 
doctrine  wliicli  aroused  the  |)ul)lic  opjiosition.  The  text 
was.  "Let  love  l)e  without  dissimulation."  Ha\ing  declared 
that  there  could  be  no  agreement  between  liatred  and  love; 
and  that  love  could  not  promote  discord,  he  indtilg'ed  iri  what 
ma}-  l)e  called  a  s])iritnal  figure  of  speech,  declaring  that  a 
(."lu'istian  must  I)e  in  tlie  same  life.  ;m(l  li\-e  with  the  same 
bji'od  that  Christ  did.  making  the  fallowing  exjilanation : 
"As  the  support  of  the  animal  life  is  tlie  Ijjood;  so  it  is  with 
the  siiul  :  the  breath  of  life  which  (1«k1  breatlied  into  it  is  the 
blood  of  the  soul :  the  life  of  the  soul  :  and  in  this  sense  we 
are  to  understand  it.  and  in  no  other  sense." 

He  referred  to  the  rejiroxer  of  our  sins,  said  that  it  is 
(lod  who  re])roves  tis.  "Xow.  here  is  the  great  business  of 
our  li\es."  he  remarked,  "not  only  to  know  this  reprover, 
but  to  know  that  it  is  a  gift  from  (}od.  a  manifestation  of 
his  own  ptn^e  life,  that  was  in  his  son  Jesus  Christ."  Con- 
tinuing he  said  : 

"  \<  the  apostle  testifies:      "In  him  was  life,  and  the  life 
"llu-    Quaktr,"    \'i>l.     i.    p.    72. 


IJF^'K  AND    LABORS  (^F   F-II.IAS   HICKS  155 

was  tlie  li.L;lit  ni'  men;  and  llial  was  the  true  H.i^lit.  wliicli 
lii^litctli  exery  man  thai  coniclh  into  the  worhl.'  Xnw  can 
we  hesitate  a  single  moment,  in  rej^ard  to  the  truth  of  thi> 
declaration.'  \o  sensible,  reflecting-  mind  can  possibly  d>.' 
it."  - 

Touching"  the  outward  and  written  a^  coiii])arcd  with 
the  inner  hiw  of  life,  he  afVirmed  : 

■■Jlere  is  a  law  more  coni])rehensi\  e  than  the  hiw  d 
-Moses,  and  it  is  clear  to  every  individual  of  its.  as  the  law- 
was  to  the  Israelites.  For  I  dare  not  suppose  that  the 
Almight}-  would  by  an}-  means  tnake  it  a  doubtful  or  mys- 
terious one.  It  would  tiot  become  God  at  all  to  sui)])ose 
this  the  case — it  would  be  casting-  a  deep  reflection  upon  his 
goodness  and  wisdom.  Therefore  T  coticeixe  that  the  law 
written  in  the  heart,  if  we  attend  to  it  and  do  not  turn  from 
it  to  build  up  traditions,  or  depend  on  anything  that  arises 
from  self,  or  that  is  in  our  own  power,  but  come  to  be  regu- 
lated by  this  law,  we  shall  see  that  it  is  the  easiest  thing 
to  be  understood  that  can  be,  and  that  all  i>ur  benefits  de- 
])end  on  our  complying  with  this  law-. 

"Here  ncjw  we  see  what  tradition  is.  It  is  a  departure 
from  this  law;  and  it  has  the  same  effect  now  that  tradition 
had  upon  the  followers  of  the  outward  law  :  as  a  belief  in 
tradition  was  produced  they  were  bound  by  it.  and  trusted 
in  it.  .\nd  so  people,  nowadays,  seem  to  l)e  compelled 
to  believe  in  tradition,  and  thus  the\'  turn  away  from  the 
gospel  dispensation,  or  otherwise  the  light  and  life  of  God's 
Spirit  in  the  soul,  which  is  the  law  of  the  new  covenant ;  for 
the  law  is  light  and  the  C(^mmandment  a  lamp  to  show  us 
the  way  to  life."  ^ 

L'sing"  the  term,  "waslied  clean  in  the  blood  of  the 
lamb."'  lie  prc^ceeded  to  explain  himself  as  follows: 

".\nd  what  is  the  blood  of  the  lamb?  It  was  his  life, 
mv  friends;  for  as  outward,  material  bluod  \\a>  made  use 
(if  to  express  the  animal  life,  inspired  men  u>ed  it  as  a 
simile.  Outward  blood  is  the  life  of  the  animal,  but  it  has 
nothing  to  do  with  the  soul;  for  the  soul  has  Ud  animal 
blood,  no  material  blood.     The   life   of  God   in   the   s<.ul    is 

■"  "The  Quaker."   X'ol.    i.   p.   5t. 
■■■'The   Quaker."   \'i>\.    1,   j>.   61. 


156  LIFE  AM)  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

the  1)1u(k1  of  the  soul,  and  the  life  of  (lod  is  tlic  l>lood  of 
(,kid  :  and  so  it  was  the  life  and  hlood  of  Jesus  Christ  his 
son.  i-'or  lie  was  born  of  the  spirit  of  his  heavenly  Father, 
and  szcallcKccd  up  fully  and  completely  in  his  divine  nature, 
so  that  he  7cas  completely  di-rine.  It  was  this  that  oper- 
ated, in  that  twofold  state,  and  governed  the  whole  animal 
man  Avhich  was  the  son  c^f  Abraham  and  David — a  taber- 
nacle for  his  blessed  soul.  Here  now  we  see  that  flesh  and 
blood  are  not  capable  of  being  in  reality  divine  :  fr)r  are  they 
not  altogether  under  the  direction  and  guidance  <)f  the  soul? 
Thus  the  animal  bod}-  of  Jesus  did  nothing  but  what  the 
(li\  ine  i)ower  in  the  soul  told  it  to  do.  Here  he  was 
swallowed  up  in  the  divinity  of  his  Father  while  here  on 
earth,  and  it  was  this  that  was  the  active  thing,  the  active 
principle,  that  governed  the  animate  earth.  For  it  corre- 
sponds, and  cannot  do  otherwise,  with  Almighty  goodness, 
that  the  soul  shotild  have  power  to  command  the  animal 
bodv  to  do  good  or  evil  :  because  he  has  placed  us  in  this 
probationary  state,  and  in  his  wisdom  has  set  evil  and  good 
before  us — light  and  darkness.  He  has  made  us  free 
agents,  and  given  us  opportunity  to  make  our  own  election. 
"Here  now  we  shall  see  what  is  meant  by  election,  the 
election  of  God.  A\'e  see  that  those  who  choose  the  Lord 
for  their  portion  and  the  God  of  Jacob  for  the  lot  of  their 
inheritance,  these  are  the  elect.  .\nd  nothing  ever  did  or 
can  elect  a  soul  to  God,  but  in  this  choice.'** 

Ft  is  not  eas\-  to  see  how  any  one  can  inipariially  con- 
sider tlie  foregoing,  es]>ecially  the  words  printed  in  italics. 
and  continue  to  claim  that  Flias  Hicks  denied  the  divinity 
of  ("iirist.  Xear  the  end  of  this  sermon  we  find  the  follow- 
ing ])arrigra])li : 

■'I  sav.  dearlv  beloved,  my  soul  craves  it  for  us,  that 
we  ma\-  sink  down  and  examine  ourselves:  according  to  the 
declaration  of  the  apostle:  'E.xamine  yourselves  whether 
ve  be  in  the  faith  :  prove  your  own  selves :  know  ye  not 
your  own  selves,  how  that  Jesus  Christ  is  in  you  except  ye 
be  reprobates?'  Now  we  cannot  suppose  that  the  apostle 
meant  that  outward  man  that  walked  alxnit  the  streets  of 
Jerusalem  ;  because  he  is  not  in  any  of  us.  lint  what  is 
this   Jesus   Christ?     He  came  to  be  a  Saviour  to  that   na- 


The    Quaker,"    \'ol.    i,   p.   (>2. 


IJI-K  AND   LABORS  (JF  El. IAS   HICKS  157 

tion.  and  was  liinilcd  to  ihal  nation.  He  came  to  gather 
up,  and  look  up  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel.  But 
as  he  was  a  Saviour  in  the  outward  sense,  so  he  was  an 
outward  shadow  of  good  things  to  come;  and  so  the  work 
of  the  man,  Jesus  Christ,  was  a  figure.  He  healed  the  sick 
of  their  outward  calamities — -he  cleansed  the  leprosy — all 
of  which  was  external  and  affected  only  their  bodies — as 
sickness  does  not  affect  the  souls  of  the  children  of  men, 
though  they  may  labour  under  all  these  things.  But  as  he 
was  considered  a  Saviour,  he  meant  by  wdiat  he  said,  a 
Saviour  is  within  you,  the  anointing  of  the  spirit  of  God  is 
within  you  :  for  this  made  the  ways  of  Jesus  so  wonderful 
in  his  day  that  the  Psalmist  in  his  prophecy  concerning  him 
exclaims:  'Thou  hast  loved  righteousness  and  hated  in- 
iquity ;  therefore  God,  even  thy  God  hath  anointed  thee  with 
the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fellows.'  He  had  loved  right- 
eousness, you  perceive,  and  therefore  was  prepared  to  re- 
ceive the  fullness  of  the  spirit,  the  fullness  of  that  divine 
anointing;  for  there  was  no  germ  of  e\il  in  him  or  about 
him ;  both  his  soul  and  body  were  pure.  He  was  anointed 
above  all  his  fellow's,  to  be  the  head  of  the  church,  the  top 
stone,  the  chief  corner  stone,  elect  and  precious.  And 
what  was  it  that  was  a  Saviour?  Xot  that  which  was  out- 
ward; it  was  not  flesh  and  blood;  for  'flesh  and  blood  can- 
not inherit  the  kingdom  of  heaven' ;  it  must  go  to  the  earth 
from  whence  it  was  taken.  It  was  that  life,  that  same  life 
that  I  have  already  mentioned,  that  was  in  him.  and  which 
is  the  light  and  life  of  men,  and  which  lighteth  every  man, 
and  consequently  every  woman,  that  cometh  into  the  world. 
And  w^e  have  this  light  and  life  in  us ;  which  is  what  the 
apostle  meant  by  Jesus  Christ;  and  if  we  have  not  this  rtil- 
ing  in  us  we  are  dead,  because  we  are  not  under  the  law  of 
the  spirit  of  life.  For  the  'law  is  light  and  the  rejiroofs  of 
instruction   the   way  to   life.'"' 

Unless  the  so-called  heterodox  doctrine  can  be  found 
in  the  foregoing  extracts,  it  does  not  exist  in  the  sermon 
under  disctission. 

Two  other  sermons  were  evidently  l)Oth  considered  of- 
fensive and  objectionable  by  the  orthodox.  One  was 
preached  at  the  Twelfth  Street  meeting.  Twelfth  month  10. 


'Thf   Quaker,"    Vol.    i,    p.   68. 


158  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  KLIAS  HICKS 

1826.  .'111(1  the  other  the  uth  nf  the  same  month  at  Key'^ 
Alley,  hoth  in  Philadelphia.  At  the  Twelfth  Street  meet- 
in«>',  amid  nincli  eon  fusion.  Thomas  Wistar  attem])te(l  to 
contro\ert  what  hdias  flicks  had  said  in  certain  [)aniculars. 
While  this  iMa'end  was  talkini^'.  hdias  tried  to  persuade  the 
audience  to  be  quiet. 

At  l\e\'s  Alk'}',  when  I'"lia>  had  finished.  Philadel])iu'a 
Pemherton.  in  the  midst  of  a  distiu'hance  that  nearly 
flrOAAued  his  \"oice.  i;a\e  an  exhortation  in  suppm-t  nt  tlie 
outward  and  \icarious  atonement.  When  hriend  Pemher- 
ton ceased,  hdias  Hicks  expressed  his  ideas  rei^ardini;"  t^os- 
])el  order  and  \ariety  in  the  ministry,  for  which  I'riends  had 
always  stood,  in  which  he  said  : 

"Aly  dear  friends,  God  is  a  God  of  order — and  it  will  do 
ine  i^reat  pleasure  to  see  this  meeting-  sit  quiet  till  it  closes. 
We  have,  and  claim  gospel  privileges,  and  that  exery  one 
m'ay  be  persuaded  in  his  own  mind  ;  and  as  we  have  gifts 
differing,  so  ought  ever}  one  tcj  have  an  opportunity  t" 
speak,  one  by  one,  but  not  two  at  once,  that  all  may  be  com- 
forted. If  any  thing  be  revealed  (and  we  are  not  to  speak 
except  this  is  the  case),  if  any  thing  be  revealed  to  one. 
let  others  hold  their  peace — this  is  according  to  order. 
And  I  desire  it.  once  for  all,  my  dear  friends,  if  yon  love 
me,  that  you  will  keep  strictly  to  this  order:  it  will  be  a 
great  comfort  to  my  spirit."" 

Speaking  of  the  fear  of  God.  he  said  that  he  did  n(.t 
mean  ''a  fear  that  arises  from  the  dread  of  torment,  or 
of  chastisement,  or  an\thing  of  this  kind:  for  that  may  be 
no  more  than  the  fear  of  devils,  for  they.  a\  e  read,  believe 
and  tremble."  His  theory  was  that  fear  must  be  based  on 
knowledge,  and  the  fear  to  dis])lease  God  is  not  because  of 
what  he  mav  do  to  us.  but  wliat.  for  want  of  thi<  knowledge. 
we  lose. 

.Again,  he  practically  repeated  what  was  e\idently  con- 

"  "Tlic  Quaker,"   \'(>1.    i.   |)    125. 


I. IFF.  AND   LABORS  OF   KIJAS    HICKS  159 

si(ltM"(.'<l  ;i  iruisni:  "M}'  friends  \\c  arc  not  to  look  fnr  a 
law  in  (inr  ncimiilx  »r"s  licarl.  nor  in  nuv  nc-ii^hhor's  l)i»i)k;  but 
we  are  to  look  for  that  law  wliieli  is  to  be  our  rule  and 
i^'uide.  in  our  consciences,  in  (tur  souls;  for  ibe  law  is  whole 
and  perfect."      CcMitinuinii'  he  remarked: 

"Now,  how  Concordant  tliis  is  with  the  testimony  of 
Jesus,  when  he  (|ueried  with  hi^  disciples  in  this  wise: 
"Whom  do  men  say  that  1  the  son  of  man  am?"  They 
enumerated  se\eral  characters.  accordin<^'  to  the  views  of 
the  ])eople  in  that  day.  l'>ut  until  we  come  to  this  inward, 
di\ine  law,  we  shall  know  nothiuL;-  ri*^htly  of  that  mani- 
festation; for  none  of  us  ha\e  seen  liim,  nor  any  of  his 
works  which  he  acted  outwardly.  But  here  we  find  some 
are  guessin:^'.  one  way,  and  some  another  way,  till  they  be- 
come cruel  respecting-  different  opinions  about  him,  inso- 
much that  they  will  kill  and  destroy  each  other  for  their 
opinions.  This  is  the  eft'ect  of  men's  turning  away  from 
the  true  light,  the  witness  for  God  in  their  own  souls;  it 
throws  them  into  anarchy  and  confusion."' 

In  the  opinion  of  b^dias  Hicks,  it  was  not  the  man  Peter 
that  was  to  constitute  the  rock  upon  which  the  church  was 
to  be  built,  but  rather  the  inner  revelation,  which  enabled 
the  discii)le  to  know  that  the  Master  \vas  the  Christ.  "When 
a  true  Christian  comes  to  this  rock,  he  comes  to  know  it. 
as  before  j^ointed  out;  and  here  e\er\-  one  must  see,  when 
they  btiild  on  this  di\ine  rock,  this  re\ealed  will  of  our 
Id^eavenly  blather,  there  is  no  fear." 

Touching  the  \ital  matters  of  saKation.  we  make  the 
followdng  extracts  from  this  sermon  ; 

"Nothing  but  that  whicli  is  begotten  in  everv  soul  can 
manifest  God  to  the  soul,  ^'ou  must  know^  this  for  your- 
selves, as  nothing  which  you  read  in  the  Scriptures  can 
give  you  a  sense  of  his  sa\ing  and  almighty  power.  Now, 
the  only  begotten  is  wdiat  the  power  of  God  besrets  in  the 
soul,  bv  the  soul  uniting  with  the  \isitations  of  divine  love. 


■"The  Quaker,"   Vi.].    1.  ji.   94. 


i6o  lAY'E  AND   I,ABC)RS  OF   RI.IAS   HICKS 

It  becomes  like  a  union—  the  soul  >ul)niits  and  \  iel(l>  ilselt 
up  to  God  and  the  revelation  of  his  power,  and  ihus  it  be- 
comes wedded  to  him  as  its  hea\enly  Iuis1)aud.  Mere,  now, 
is  a  birth  of  the  Son  of  ( !od  ;  and  this  must  1)e  l)es^otten  in 
every  soul,  as  (iod  can  be  manifested  by  notliin^;-  else. 

"Now,  what  was  this  Holy  (ihost  and  spirit  of  truth, 
and  where  are  we  to  find  it?  ITe  did  not  Iea\e  his  disciples 
in  tlie  dark — "ITe  dwelleth  witli  you.  and  shall  be  in  you.' 
]\Iind  it,  my  friends.  What  a  blessed  sovereign  (iod  thi-~ 
is  to  be  the  children  of  men — a  (Iod  who  has  placed  a  i)c»r- 
tion  of  himself  in  everv  rational  soid — a  measure  of  his 
grace  sufficient  for  every  ])urpose,  for  the  redemption  of  the 
souls  of  men  from  sin  and  transgression.  an<I  tn  lead  them 
to  the  kingdom  of  hea\en.  And  there  is  no  other  way. 
Then  do  not  put  it  ofT  any  longer;  do  not  procrastinate  any 
longer;  do  not  say  to-morrow,  but  immediately  turn  inward, 
for  the  day  calls  aloud  for  it — e\er}'thing  around  us  calls 
for  us  to  turn  inward,  to  that  which  will  hel]^  us  to  dn  the 
great  work  of  oiu'  salvation."  - 

There  seems  to  lia\e  been  little,  if  any,  public  demon- 
stration against  the  preaching  of  FJias  Hicks  in  meetings 
where  he  was  present,  except  in  Philadelphia.  Tliat  is  es- 
])eciallv  true  before  the  coming  of  tlie  English  preachers,  and 
the  strained  conditions  that  existed  just  preceding  and  dm- 
ing  the  various  acts  of  separation.  Tt  will  thus  be  seen 
that  the  concern  and  purpose  of  the  ten  men  elders  of  Phila- 
delphia remained  persistent  until  the  end. 


•'The  Quaker,"  V.»l.   i,  p.  97-' i!^- 


CHAPTER    Will. 

The  Braithwaite  Controversy. 

Onk  i)|"  llie  niarkeW  incidents  (Ini'in^  iIk-  ■■separation 
period  was  the  controxersy  between  I'.lias  Micks  and  .\nna 
Braithwaite,'  and  the  still  more  pointed  discnssion  indnls^'ed 
in  1)\-  the  friends  and  ])artisans  of  these  two  h'riends.  I'^"oni 
our  viewpoint  there  seems  to  have  been  a  certain  amount 
of  unnecessary  sensitiveness,  which  led  both  these  Friend^ 
to  e.\alt  to  the  dii^nitx'  of  an  insult,  and  ])ositi\e  ini])each- 
tnent  of  intej^ritx'.  matters  which  ])rol)al)l\  belonoed  in  tlie 
doiuain  of  misunderstandinLi'.  It  was  a])parenily  inii)ossil)lc 
for  either  to  think  in  the  terms  >^i  the  other,  and  >o  tlic  con- 
test wetU  I  III  and  ended. 

We  shall  let  her  friends  state  the  heL^nmiiiL;  and  proii- 
ress  (U"  .\tnia  liraithw  aite's  reliiiion>  lahoi"  in  America,  and 
quote  as  follows:  "She  arri\ed  in  Xew  ^'ork  in  Im^IuIi 
month.  1^2,^  h'or  seven  months  she  met  with  no  o])])osi- 
tion.      True,    ^he   alwavs   ])reaclied   oi-tho(|(.\    (jnctrmo.    hut 


'  Anna  Braithwaite.  daughter  of  Cliarles  and  Mary  Lloyd,  of  Bir- 
mingham, England,  was  born  Twelfth  month,  1788.  She  was  married 
to  Isaac  Braithwaite,  Third  month  26.  i8og,  and  removed  to  Kendal 
immediately  after.  She  sailed  for  America  on  her  lirsl  visit.  Seventh 
month  7th,  1823.  She  attended  three  meetings  in  New  York,  and  then 
the  Quarterly  ^Meeting  at  Burlington,  at  which  place  she  seems  to  have 
been  the  guest  of  Stephen  Grellet.  She  made  two  other  visits  to 
America,  one  in  1825  and  the  other  in  1827.  She  returned  to  England 
after  her  first  visit  to  America  in  the  autumn  of  1824.  The  last  two 
visits  she  made  to  America  she  was  accompanied  by  her  husband.  Anna 
Braithwaite  was  a  woman  of  commanding  presence,  and  was  unusually 
cultured  for  one  of  her  sex  at  that  time.  She  was  something  of  a 
linguist,  speaking  several  languages.  Her  visits  in  .America  were  quite 
extensive,  taking  her  as  far  south  as  North  Carolina.  She  died  Twelftli 
month  T8th.  1859. 

161  -21 


i62  LIFE  AN!)    LABORS  OF   l-'.LIAS   HICKS 

slic  liad  made  no  pnintcd  allusions  lo  ihc  reputed  >cnlinK-ut- 
"f  |{lias  Hicks."  - 

It  is  interestini;-  to  note  that  tlic  ])ositi\c  iJi-eachini;-  ot 
"orthodox  doctrine."  on  its  merits,  caused  no  (i])])osition. 
even  from  the  friends  of  Iilias  llicks.  the  trouble  only 
comins;  when  a  ])ersonal  apj^lication  was  made,  aniomitiuL; 
to  |)ersonal  criticism.  This  is  a  fine  testimony  ti>  the  min- 
isterial liljerty  in  the  Society,  and  really  a  contirmatiou  of 
the  claim  that  spiritual  unity,  and  not  doctrinal  uniftM-mity. 
was  the  true  basis  of  fellowsliip  anioni;-  b'rieuds.  W  e  (|uote 
again  : 

■"She  visited  Long  Island  in  the  spring,  and  had  some 
opportunities  of  conversing  with  Elias  llicks  on  religious 
subjects,  and  also  of  hearing  him  preach.  'Jdiey  diltered 
widely  in  sentiment,  upon  important  doctrines,  and  she 
soon  had  to  conclude  that  his  were  at  variance  with  the 
hitherto  well-established  principles  of  the  Society.  Witl: 
these  views,  she  returned  to  New  York,  and,  subsecjuently. 
about  the  time  of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  in  May,  she  con- 
sidered it  an  act  of  duty  to  warn  her  hearers  against  cer 
tain  specious  doctrines,  which  were  gradually  spreading, 
and  imdermining  what  she  believed  to  be  the  'true 
faith.'  "  -^ 

It  seems  that  Anna  Braithwaite  was  twice  the  guest  of 
Rlias  Hicks  in  Jericho,  dining  at  his  house  both  times.  1'he 
hrst  visit  was  in  I^^irst  month.  1SJ4,  and  tlie  otiier  in  Third 
month  of  the  same  year.  They  were  Ixith  good  talkers, 
and  apparently  expressed  themselves  with  commendable 
frankness.  The  subject-matter  of  these  two  conversations, 
however,  became  material  around  whicli  a  ])ro]onged  c(Mitro- 
versv    was   wag'ed.       Before    Anna    Braithwaite    sailed    for 


"■'Calumny  Refuted;  or,  Plain  Facts  rcrstis  Misrepre.sentations." 
Being  reply  to  Pamphlet  entitled,  The  Misrepresentations  of  Anna 
Braithwaite  in  Relation  to  the  Doctrines  Preached  by  Flias  Hicks,'" 
etc..  p.  2. 

'  The   same,  p.  6. 


I.IFK  AN!)    LABORS   OF-"   KLIAS   HICKS  16;, 

Eng-land.  she  w  rote  :i  letter  io  an  uiinatned  Friend  in  Mush- 
ing- relative  [<>  the  interviews  with  i'dias  Hicks,  'i'he  letter 
was  (lat(.'(j  Seventh  month   id,   1SJ4. 

After  Anna  Ihaithw  aite's  dci)artin'e  from  this  t"onntr\-, 
the  lettei'  referred  to.  with  "Remarks  in  l\e])I\'  to  Assertions 
of  I'dias  I  licks.""  was  |)n])lislied  and  extensi\el\-  circulated. 
It  hore  the  lollowini;"  im])i"int  :  "F'hiladel|)hia  :  Printed  foi- 
the  Reader.  i<S_'4."  '  In  this  collection  was  a  letter  from 
Ann  Shipley,  of  New  York,  dated  Tenth  niontli  [5.  1824. 
in  which  she  declares  she  was  present  "dnrin^"  the  conver- 
sation hetween  her  |  .\nna  Braithwaite]  and  Ellas  Hicks. 
The  statement  she  left  was  c(~>rrect.""  While  .Ann  Shipley's 
letter  was  ])nl)lished  without  her  consent,  it  seemed  to 
fortify  the  IJraithwaite  statement,  and  hoth  were  exten- 
sively nsed  in  an  attem])t  to  cast  theolo^'ical  odinm  on  the 
venerahle  ))reacher.  Tlie  possibility  that  hoth  women  nii^ht 
lia\e  misnnderstood  or  misinterpreted  I'dias  Hicks  does  not 
seem  to  have  entered  the  minds  of  the  Anti- Hicks  partisans. 

This  particnlar  epistle  of  Anna  Braithwaite  does  not 
contain  mnch  material  not  to  be  fonnd  in  a  suljsefiuent  letter 
with  "notes."  which  will  receive  later  treatment.  In  her 
letter  she  habitnally  S])eaks  of  herself  in  the  third  person. 
and  makes  this  observation:  "When  at  Jericho  in  the  ddiird 
month  A.  B.  took  tea  with  E.  H.  in  a  social  way.  She  had 
n(jt  been  long-  in  the  honse.  when  he  bei^an  to  speak  on  the 
snbject  of  the  trinity,  which  A.  B.  considers  a  word  so 
!.ia'ossly  abnsed  as  to  render  it  undesirable  even  to  make  nse 
of  it."  ■"'  One  cannot  well  suppress  the  remark  that  if  a 
like  tenacity  of  purpose  regarding-  other  theological  terms 
had  been  held  and  f(^11owed  bv  all  parties  to  the  contri>\ers\-. 


*  ]\lo.-;t  of  the  controversial  pamphlets  and  articles  of  the  ".separa- 
tion" period  were  anonynions.  Except  when  the  articles  were  printed  in 
regular  periodicals,  their  publishers  were  as  unknown  as  their  authors 

'  "Remarks  in  Reply  to  Assertions  of   Elias  Hicks."  \k  7. 


itM  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  KLL\S   HICKS 

the    hi.st<jry    uf    the    Society    of    l^'riends    would   have   been 
entirely  different  front  the  way  it  now  has  to  be  written. 

Touching-  the  two  visits  to  Elias  Hicks,  we  have  direct 
tcstinionv   from  the  \isitor.      We  quote: 

■"1  tlnmiiln  on  first  entering-  the  house,  my  heart  and 
ilt'sh  would  fail,  but  after  a  time  of  inexpressi])le  conflict, 
1  felt  a  consoling  belief  that  best  help  would  be  near,  and 
I  think  that  every  opposing  thing  was  in  a  great  measure 
kept  down.  .  .  .  He  listened  to  my  views,  which  I  was 
enabled  to  give  with  calmness.  lie  was  many  times 
brought  into  close  quarters;  but  when  he  ct)uld  not  answer 
me  directly,  he  turned  to  something  else.  Aly  mind  is  sor- 
rowfully affected  on  this  subject,  and  the  widespread  mis- 
chief ari'^ing  from  the  propagation  of  such  sentiments."" 

In   another   letter,    written   to   her    family.    >;he   thus 
referred  to  lier  interxiew  with  Elias  Hicks: 

■"1  have  reason  to  think  that,  notwithstanding  the  firm 
and  honest  manner  in  which  my  sentiments  were  expressed, 
an  open  door  is  left  for  further  communication.  We  met  in 
love  and  we  parted  in  love.  He  wept  like  a  child  for  some 
time  before  we  separated  ;  so  that  it  was  altogether  a  most 
affecting  opportunity."  ' 

While  these  two  Friends  undoubtedly  were  present  in 
ihe  same  meeting  during  the  subsequent  visits  of  Anna 
Braithwaite  to  this  country,  their  relations  l)ecame  so 
strained  that  thev  never  met  on  common  Friendly  ground 
after  the  two  occasions  mentioned. 

After  the  i)ublication  of  the  comnnmication  and  com- 
ments referred  to.  Elias  Hicks  wrote  a  long  letter  to  his 
friend.  Dr.  Edwin  A.  Atlee.  of  Philadelphia.*  This  letter 
became  the  subject  of  a  good  deal  of  controversy,  and  may 
have  been  the  exciting  cause  of  a  letter  which  Anna  Braith- 


'  ■•.Memoirs   of   Anna   Braithwaite,"  by   her   soil,   J.    Bevan    Braith- 
waite.   p.    129-130. 

•  The  same,  p.   140. 

"The   text   of    this   letter   will   be    found   listed   as   Appendix    B   in 
this  book. 


LIFK  AXn    !.Al',t)RS   (tl-    F.I. IAS    IIKKS  165 

waile  wnjte  KHas  Hick--  <  >n  the  i,:;ili  <M'  ICleventh  iiicnth, 
1824.  from  Lod^i^c  Lane,  iicai-  l.i\  cr])i  lol.  This  lelter.  with 
elaborate  "'notes."  was  puhli.shed  and  widely  circnlated  on 
this  side  of  the  ocean.  The  letter  itself  wonld  have  catised 
very  little  excitement.  Imt  the  "notes"  were  vigorous  causes 
of  irritation  and  antagonism.  The  authorship  of  the 
"ncjtes"  was  a  matter  of  disjjute.  It  was  claimed  that  they 
were  not  written  hv  .Anna  Braithwaite.  and  the  internal 
e\i(lence  ga\e  color  to  that  conclusion.  They  were  not,  in 
whole  or  in  ])art.  entirely  in  her  spirit,  and  the  temi)er  of 
them  was  rather  masculine.  There  were  persons  who 
believed,  but,  of  course,  without  positive  evidence,  that 
Joseph  John  Gurney  was  their  author. 

The  letter  of  Anna  Braithwaite  contains  few  points  not 
covered  bv  the  "notes."  She  charges  that  Elias  had  denied 
that  the  Scriptures  were  a  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  and 
it  was  also  claimed  that  he  repudiated  "the  propitiatory  sac- 
rifice of  our  T.ord  and  Savious  Jesus  Christ."  This,  she 
affirmed,  was  infidelity  of  a  most  pronounced  type. 

The  "notes"  attached  to  this  letter  constitute  a  stinging 
arraigntnent  of  the  supposed  sentiments  of  Elias  Hicks. 
Thev  were  considered  by  his  friends  such  an  unwarranted 
attack  as  to  call  for  vigorous  treatment,  and  in  numerous 
wavs  thev  became  jioints  of  controversy.  They  were  mild 
at  first.  l)ut  personal  and  almost  bitter  at  the  last.  The  first 
"note"  in  the  collection  briefly,  but  fully,  lays  the  fotmdation 
for  arl)itrarv  authority  in  religion.     It  says: 

"Tt  is  a  regulation  indispensably  necessar}'  to  the  peace 
of  societ\ .  and  to  the  preservation  of  order,  consistency 
and  harmony  among  Christians,  that  the  members  of  every 
religious  body,  and  es])ecially  those  who  assume  the  office 
of  teachers  or  ministers,  should  be  responsible  to  the 
authorities  established  in  the  church,  for  the  doctrines 
whicli  thev  hold  and  i)ronudgate."  ^ 

*A  letter  from  Anna  Braithwaite  to  Elias  Hicks,  on  the  Nature 
of  His   Doctrines,  etc.,  p.  9. 


i66  LIFE  AND  LABORS  f)F   LLLAS  HICKS 

There  is  critical  reference  to  a  statement  uhicli  Anna 
Hraitliwaite  said  Elias  Hicks  made  in  the  Meeting-  of  Min- 
isters and  Klders  in  Jericho,  touching  spiritttal  guidance  in 
appointing  peo])le  to  service  in  the  Society.  Slie  says  that 
l^iias  declared  that  "if  each  I">iend  attended  to  his  or  her 
pro])er  gift,  as  this  spirit  is  endued  with  prescience,  that  n<> 
l'"riend  would  be  named  for  any  a])pointment,  hut  such  as 
would  attend,  and  din'ing  my  long  cotn"se  of  exj)erience.  I 
have  never  appointed  any  one  who  was  presented  from 
attending  either  by  illness  or  otherwise."  '" 

In  his  letter  to  Dr.  Atlee.  Elias  states  his  expression  at 
the  meeting  as  differing  from  Anna  Uraithwaite's  in  a 
material  Avay.  This  is  what  he  declares  he  said  :  "That  I 
thotight  there  was  something  wrong  in  the  present  instance. 
for,  as  we  profess  to  l)elieve  in  the  gtiidance  of  the  Sjiirit  ot 
Truth  as  an  unerring  S])irit.  was  it  not  reasonal)]e  to  ex])ect. 
especiallv  in  a  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  that  if  each 
I'riend  attended  to  their  pro])er  gifts,  as  this  Spirit  is  endued 
with  prescience,  that  it  would  be  mucli  more  likely,  under 
its  divine  influence,  we  should  be  led  to  appoint  such  as 
would  attend  on  particular  and  necessary  occasions,  than  to 
api)oint  those  A\'hi>  would  not  attend.'" 

We  make  these  ({notations  not  only  to  show  the  differ- 
ence in  the  two  statements,  but  to  also  make  it  plain  what 
small  faggots  were  used  to  build  the  fires  of  controversy 
regarding  tlie  opinions  of  Elias  Hicks.  It  looks  in  this 
particular  citation  like,  a  case  of  criticism  gone  mad.  The 
following  extracts  are  from  the  "notes": 

"We  shall  now  notice  the  comparatively  modern  work 
of  that  arch-infidel,  Thomas  Paine,  called  "The  Age  of 
Reason."  many  of  the  sentiments  of  which  are  so  exactly 
similar  to  those  of  Elias  Hicks,  as  almost  to  induce  us  to 
suspect  plagiarism."  '' 

"  The  same,  p.  4. 
"  The  same,  p.  23-24. 


LIFi-.  AND    LABORS  ()!■    KI.IAS   HirKS  167 

■*\\'c  could  adduce  lar^e  (luclalions  fn  mi  auilinrs  of  the 
-^anle  school  with  Paiue,  showiu^  in  the  must  conclusive 
manner  that  the  dogmas  of  Elias  Hicks,  so  far  from  being: 
further  revelations  of  Christian  doctrines,  are  merely  the 
stale  objections  to  the  relis:ion  of  the  Bible,  which  have  l)een 
so  freciuently  routed  and  driven  from  the  field,  to  the  utter 
shame  and  confusion  of  their  promulgators."  '- 

11iose  who  defended  Elias  Hicks  saw  in  these  criti- 
cisms an  act  of  persecittion.  and  a  veiled  attempt  to  under- 
mine his  reputation  as  a  man  and  a  minister.  The  latter 
effort  was  read  into  the  following  paragraph,  which  was 
presented  as  an  effort  at  justifying  the  criticism  of  the 
Jericho  jireacher.      We  qtiote  : 

"It  was  both  Friendly  and  Christian  to  warn  them  of 
the  danger  of  listening  with  credulity  to  one  whose  high 
profession,  reputed  morality,  and  popular  eloquence,  had 
given  him  considerable  influence;  and  if  his  opinions  had 
been  correct,  the  promulgation  of  them  would  not  have 
proved  prejudicial  to  him."  '■'■ 

The  references  to  'J'honias  Paine  will  sound  singularly 
overdrawn  if  read  in  connection  with  the  reference  of  Elias 
Hicks  to  the  same  person.'*  It  may  be  asserted  with  some 
ilegree  of  safety  that  it  is  doubtful  if  either  P^lias  Hicks  or 
his  critics  ever  read  enotigh  of  the  writings  of  Thomas 
Paine  to  be   really   (|ualitled   to  judicially  criticise   them. 

\Vlien  Anna  Braithwaite  visited  this  country  the  second 
time,  in  1825.  .she  found  matters  much  more  tmsettled  than 
on  her  first  visit.  Her  own  part  in  the  controxersy  had 
been  fully,  if  not  fairly,  discussed.  As  showing  her  own 
feeling  touching  the  second  visit,  we  qtiote  the  following 
from  a  sermon  preached  by  her : 

"1  have  thought  many  times,  wdiile  surrounded  b\-  my 

'"  The  same,  p.  26. 

"  The  same,  p.  21-22. 

'*  See  page   117  of  this  book. 


i68  LIKK  AND   LABORS  O  I-'   F.I. IAS    IlKKS 

laniily  attd  my  friends,  and  when  I  liave  bowed  before  the 
throne  of  grace,  how  ver}-  near  and  how  very  dear  were 
iny  fellow-believers,  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  made  unto 
!ny  soul.  It  seemed  to  me,  as  if  in  a  very  remarkable  man- 
ner, their  everlasting-  welfare  was  brought  before  me.  as  if 
my  fellow-professors  of  the  same  religious  ])rinciples  with 
myself  were  in  a  very  peculiar  manner  the  objects  of  much 
solicitude.  How  have  I  had  to  pour  out  ni\  soul  in  secret 
unto  the  i.ord.  that  he  would  turn  them  more  and  more. 
and  so  let  their  light  shine  before  men.  that  all  being 
believers  in  a  crucified  Saviour,  they  may  be  brought  to 
know  for  themselves  that  though  'Christ  Crucified  was  to 
the  Jews  a  stumbling  l)lock.  and  unto  the  Greeks  foolish- 
ness; but  unto  them  which  are  called,  both  Jews  and  (ireeks. 
Christ,  the  power  of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God.'  I  say 
my  soul  hath  been  poured  out  before  the  Lord,  that  their 
light  might  shine  in  a  still  more  cons]^icuous  manner, 
through  their  hearts  being  brought  into  dee]i  prostration  <if 
soul,  that  so  their  works  migln  glorify  their  I^'ather  which  is 
in  heaxen.  My  heart  was  enlarged  toward  every  religious 
denomination:  for  surely,  the  world  oxer,  those  who  arc 
belie\ers  in  Christ  ha\e  one  common  bond  of  union — they 
are  the  salt  of  the  earth — the  little  flock  to  wdiom  the  Father 
in  his  good  pleasure  will  give  the  Kingdom.  I  have  often 
gre.atly  desired  to  be  with  you.  while  I  am  well  aware  that 
to  many  it  mtist  api)ear  a  strange  thing,  that  a  female 
should  leaxe  her  home,  her  family,  riud  her  l'ricn(l>.  and 
should  thus  expose  herself  to  the  public,  to  jireach  the  glad 
tidings  of  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ :  yet  I  have 
thought,  my  beloved  friends,  that  though  all  may  not  see 
into  these  things,  yet  surely  there  is  no  other  Avay  for  any 
of  us.  but  to  yield  up  our  thoughts  unto  the  Lord."  '  ' 

There  seem  to  have  been  some  I'riends  desirous  of 
pro(hicing  a  meeting  between  Anna  I'raithwaile  and  I'.lias 
Hicks  (hu'ing  this  \isit.  in  Tenth  month.  iS_'5.  she  wrote 
him  from  Kijjp'--  I'.av ,  Long  Ishmd.  .She  informed  him  of 
her  arrival,  and  then  stated  "tliat  if  lie  wishes  to  have  an\ 
comniimication  with  her.  she  is  willing  to  meet  him  in  tin 
presence  of  their  mtitnal  frietids,  or  to  answer  anv  letter  he 

'"'  Sermon  and  prayer  by  Atnia   Braithvvaite.  delivered   in   Friends' 
Meeting.  Arch  Street,  Philadelphia.  Octoher  26.  1825.     Taken  in  short 
hand  by  M.  T.  C.  Gould,  stenographer,  p.  4-5. 


l.II-'K  AN' I)    LABORS   n  !•    K  1.1  AS    HICKS  i6y 

ni;i\"  wi'ite  [o  her;'"  then  slie  adds  these  reiiiai'kable  words: 
'lla\iin;-  written  to  thee  sometime  ai^o.  what  1  thought  wa> 
right,  I  do  not  ash  an  interview.'  "  '" 

To  this  communication  Elias  Hicks  made  a  somewhat 
lull  reph'.  He  sa)"s  tliat  her  notes  of  the  couxersation. 
'Mivers  of  which  were  without  founchuion,"  led  him  to 
wonder  win-  she  sliould  even  think  of  having  any  future 
communication  with  him.      Fie  then  says: 

'■'Hiat  1  have  no  desire  for  any  further  conununication 
with  thee,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  until  thou  makest 
a  suitable  acknowdedgment  for  thy  breach  of  friendship,  as 
is  required  by  the  salutary  discipline  of  our  Society  ;  but  as 
it  resi)ects  myself,  I  freely  forgive  thee,  and  leave  thee  to 
l)ursue  thy  own  w-ay  as  long  as  thou  canst  find  true  peace 
and  quiet  therein."  ''' 

It  has  to  be  sai«l  regretfulls  that  during  Anna  i'railli- 
waite's  second  visit  to  this  country,  she  met  with  lK)th 
])ersonal  and  Society  rebuffs.  In  some  meetings  her  minute 
was  read,  but  with  no  e.\})ression  of  approbation  in  the  case. 
The  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  at  Jericho  appointed 
a  committee.^*  to  advise  her  not  to  appoint  an)'  more  meet- 
ings in  that  neighborhood  during  her  stay.  .\  good  many 
I'riends  objected  to  her  family  visits,  and,  taken  altogether, 
her  stay  must  have  been  one  of  trial. 

She  came  again  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1827. 
and  was  here  when  the  climax  came  in  that  year  and  the 
year  foUowdng. 

The  English  Eriends,  who  were  so  nuicli  in  evidence 
in  otn*  troubles,  went  home  to  face  the  Beacon  controversy,'* 

'"■"Christian  Inquirer,"   new   series,   Vol.    i..    i8_><\   p.   57. 

''  The  same,  p.  57. 

"  The  same,  p.  59. 

"This  controversy  look  its  name  from  a  periodical  call  the  "Bea- 
oin,"   edited   bv   Isaac    Crcwdsnu.       In    this    evanerelical    doctrines    and 


I70  iJFK  AND   LABORS  (JF   Kl.IAS   HICKS 

then  gathering-  in  England.  Tlie  Beaconitc  movemen" 
caused  several  limidred  Friends  to  sever  their  connection 
with  the  Society.  Bnt  it  did  not  reach  the  dignity  of  a 
division  or  a  separation.  Whether  the  English  h'riend'^ 
j)rotited  hy  the  experiences  snffered  hy  the  Society  in 
America  is  not  certain.  .\t  any  rate,  they  seem  to  ha\c 
been  al)le  to  endnre  their  tlilTerences  withont  a  rn])tnrt 
After  the  hjigiish  troul)le  liad  practically  snbsided.  in 
1S41,  Anna  Braithwaite  made  the  following'  snggestixe  ad- 
mission, which  may  well  close  this  chapter: 

"Calm  reflection  and  observation  of  pa>sing  events,  and 
of  persons,  have  convinced  me  that  I  took  an  exaggerated 
view  of  the  state  of  society  with  reference  to  Hicksism 
.  .  .  We  have  as  great  a  horror  of  Hicksism  as  ever,  but 
we  think  Friends  generally  are  becoming  more  alive  to  its 
dangers,  and  that  the  trials  of  the  last  few  years  have  been 
blessed  to  the  instruction  of  man  v."  -" 


methods  were  advocated.  The  Beaconites  were  strong  in  advocating 
the  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith,  and  practically  rejected  the 
fundamental  Quaker  theory  of  the  Inner  Light.  From  the  American 
standpoint,  the  Beaconite  position  seems  to  have  been  the  logical 
development  of  the  doctrines  preached  hy  the  EngHsh  and  American 
opponents   of   Elias   Hicks. 

'""J.  Bevan  Braithwaite:  a   l-'riend  r.f  llie  Xiiuietiiili  (\ntuiy,"  hy 
his  children,  p.  59-60. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

Ann  Jones  in   Dutchess  County. 

In  Fifth  month.  1828.  a  year  after  the  division  had 
been  acconipHshed  in  Philadelpliia,  a  most  remarkable  round 
of  experiences  took  phice  within  the  bounds  of  Nine  Part- 
ners and  Stanford  (Juarterl\-  Meetings,  in  Dutchess  County, 
New  York,  hdias  Hicks  was  past  eighty  years  of  age,  but 
he  attended  the  series  of  meetings  in  the  neighborhood  men- 
tioned. George  and  Ann  Jones,  Enghsh  Friends,  much  in 
evidence  in  "separation"  matters,  were  also  in  attendance, 
the  result  being  a  series  of  controversial  exhortations, 
mingled  with  personal  allusions,  sometimes  gently  veiled, 
but  containing  what  would  now  pass  for  bitterness  and 
railing.  The  "sermons"  of  tin's  series  were  stenographic- 
ally  reported,  and  form  a  small  book  of  ninety-eight  pages. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  at  Nine  Partners.  First-day, 
Fifth  month  4th.  Elias  Hicks  had  the  first  service  in  the 
meeting.  After  he  had  closed.  Ann  Jones  made  the  fol- 
lowing remarks : 

"We  have  heard  considerable  said,  and  we  have  heard, 
under  a  specious  pretence  of  preaching  the  Gospel,  the 
Saviour  of  the  world  denied,  who  is  God  and  equal  with 
the  F'ather.  And  we  have  heard  that  the  Scriptures  had 
done  more  hurt  than  good.  We  have  also  heard  the  exist- 
ence of  a  devil  denied,  except  what  arises  from  our  propen- 
sities, desires,  &c."  ^ 


*  "Strnions"  by  Elias  Hicks,  Ann  Jones  and  other--  of  tho  Society 
of  Friends,  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Nine  Partners  and  Stanford, 
and  first  day  preceding  in  Fifth  month,  182S.  Taken  in  shorthand  by 
Henrv   Hoag.  p.   20. 

171 


172  1.1  FK  AND   LABORS  O  !•    l-:i.lAS    HICKS 

After  this  delixerance,  Elias  Hicks  attain  arose  and  said: 

"I  will  just  obsei"ve  that  my  friends  are  acquainted 
with  me  in  these  parts,  and  know  me  very  well  when  1 
speak  to  them.  I  came  not  here  as  a  jud^e,  but  as  a  coun- 
sellor: T  leave  it  for  the  people  to  judge.  And  I  would 
hope  to  turn  them  to  nothing  but  a  firm  and  solid  convic- 
tion in  their  minds.  We  may  speak  one  by  one,  for  that 
becometh  order.  I  thought  I  would  add  a  word  or  two 
more.  When  1  was  young,  I  read  the  Scriptures,  and  f 
thought  that  they  were  not  the  power,  nor  the  spirit,  and 
that  there  was  but  very  little  in  them  for  me ;  but  I  was 
vain.  But  when  T  had  once  seen  the  sin  in  my  heart,  then 
r  found  that  this  book  pointed  to  the  Spirit,  but  never  con- 
victed me  of  sin. 

"I  believe  that  this  was  the  doctrine  of  ancient  Friends  ; 
for  George  Fox  declared  that  his  Saviour  never  could  be 
slain  by  the  hands  of  wicked  men.  I  believe  the  Scriptures 
concerning  Jesus  Christ,  and  David,  too,  and  a  host  of 
others,  who  learned  righteousness  and  were  united  one  with 
another.  I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  took  upon  him  flesh 
made  under  the  law,  for  all  people  are  made  under  the  law. 
and  Christ  is  this  Light  which  enlighteneth  every  man  that 
comes  into  the  world.  And  now,  my  friends,  I  would  not 
have  you  believe  one  word  of  what  I  say,  unless  by  solid 
conviction."  - 

It  w  ill  be  in  order  to  find  out  what  was  said  by  Elias 
Hicks  which  called  for  the  personal  allusion  made  by  Ann 
[ones.  We  are  not  able  to  find  in  the  remarks  of  Elias  Hicks 
on  this  occasion  anything  that  would  justify  the  strong  lan- 
guage of  his  critic,  especially  as  to  the  Scriptures  having 
done  more  hurt  than  good.  It  would  seem  that  the  sup- 
])lementarv  statement  quoted  must  be  accepted  as  containing 
Ids  estimate  of  the  book  which  he  w-as  charged  with  repudi- 
ating, rather  than  the  critical  assertion  of  his  doctrinal 
opponent. 

There  are  various  statements  in  the  Hicks  sermon 
which    denied    some    of    the    material    claims    of    popular 

■  The  saint". 


LlFli   AND    l,ABORS  OF   KLIAS   HKKS  173 

thet>logy,  but  they  did  not  class  him  with  those  who  denied 
the  existence  or  spiritual  oftke  of  Christ.  In  the  meetings 
under  review,  and  at  other  times,  the  evidence  is  abundant 
that  his  critics  either  did  not  want  to  or  could  not  under- 
stand him.  He  dealt  with  the  spirit  of  the  o-(\si)el,  and  with 
the  inner  manifestation  of  that  spirit  in  tlie  heart.  Thex 
stood  for  scrijnural  lileralness,  and  for  the  outward  ai)pear- 
ance  of  Christ.  It  is  not  for  us  to  condemn  eitlier  side  in 
I  lie  controversy,  but  to  state  the  case. 

We  produce  a  few  sentences  and  expressions  trom  the 
sermon  by  Elias  Hicks,  which  might  have  created  antago- 
nism at  the  time.  Speaking  of  the  "Comforter"  which  was 
to  come,  he  said : 

"And  what  was  this  Comforter?  Not  an  external  one — 
not  Jesus  Christ  outward,  to  whom  there  was  brought  dis- 
eased persons  and  he  delivered  them  from  their  various 
diseases.  .  .  .  Here,  now,  he  told  them  how  to  do :  he 
previously  made  mention  that  when  the  Comforter  had 
come,  he  would  reprove  the  world  of  sin — now  the  world 
is  every  rational  soul  under  heaven.  And  he  has  come  and 
reproved  them.  I  dare  appeal  to  the  wickedest  man 
present,  that  will  acknowledge  the  truth,  that  this  Light 
has  come  into  the  world  ;  but  men  love  darkness  better  than 
light,  because  their  deeds  are  evil;  yet  they  know  the  light 
]>y  an  evidence  in  their  hearts."  ^ 

Near  the  end  of  this  discourse  he  elaborated  his  idea  as 
to  the  inefTectual  character  of  all  outward  and  formal  soul 
cleansing,  in  the  following  language : 

"Now  can  any  man  of  common  sense  suppose  that  it 
(.an  be  outward  blood  that  was  shed  by  the  carnal  Jews  that 
will  cleanse  us  from  our  sins?  The  blood  of  Chirst  that 
is  immortal,  never  can  be  seen  by  mortal  eyes.  And  to  be 
Christians,  we  must  come  to  see  an  immortal  view.  After 
Christ  had  recapitulated  the  precepts  of  the  law,  'Is  it  not 
written  in  your  law,  an  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a 

'  The  same,  p.  9. 


1/4  lAFE  AND    LABORS  ()F   KLIAS   HICKS 

tooth :  but  I  say  unto  you,  if  a  man  smite  thee  on  one  cheek 
turn  to  him  the  other  also:  and  if  a  man  take  thy  coat  from 
thee,  i^ive  him  thy  cloak  also.'  Don't  we  see  how  different 
the  precepts  of  the  law  of  God  are?  He  tells  us  how  we 
should  do — we  should  take  no  advantat^e  at  all.  The 
Almighty  visits  us,  to  iret  us  willing-  to  obser\e  his  law;  and 
if  all  were  concerned  to  maintain  his  law.  all  lawyers  would 
be  banished;  we  should  have  no  need  of  them;  as  well 
as  of  hireling  Priests.  We  should  have  no  need  of  them 
to  teach  us,  nor  no  need  of  the  laws  of  men,  for  each  one 
would  have  a  law  in  his  own  mind."  * 

The  other  |M)ints  in  Dutcliess  Couni\-  xisited,  and 
in\n]\e<l  in  the  re[)orts  of  sermons  under  ci^nsideration,  were 
Chestnut  Ricig'e,  Stanford  and  Oblong".  At  some  of  these 
meetings  the  i)reachers  spoke  more  than  once.  It  does  not 
appear  that  in  the  brief  coninuuiicatiojis  of  Cieorge  Jones 
he  eitiier  directly  or  indirectly  referred  to  statements  made 
by  Elias  Hicks,  or  particularly  sought  to  antagonize  them. 
Ann  Jones,  however,  was  not  similarly  considerate  and 
cautious.  Either  directly  or  by  inference,  she  cpu'te  g"ener- 
alh-  attempted  to  furnish  the  antidote  for  \\  liat  she  con- 
sidered the  pernicious  doctrine  of  her  fellow-minister. 
Speaking  at  Nine  Partners  Quarterly  Meeting,  Fifth  month 
"th.  .she  said  : 

*T  believe  it  to  be  right  for  me  to  caution  the  present 
company  without  respect  of  persons — how  they  deny  the 
Lord  that  bought  them — how  they  set  at  nought  the  out- 
ward coming  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  who  died  for  them  : 
they  will  have  to  answer  it  at  the  awful  tribunal  bar  of  God, 
where  it  will  be  altogether  unavailing  to  say  that  such  a 
one  taught  me  to  believe  that  there  was  nothing  in  this. 
Oh !  my  friends !  God  hath  not  left  us  without  a  Avitness : 
Oh,  then  it  is  unto  the  faithful  and  true  witness,  'the  testi- 
mony of  Jesus,  which  is  the  spirit  of  prophecy.'  I  am  en- 
gaged in  gospel  love  to  recommend,  and  to  hold  out  unto 
vou.  that  you  meddle  not  with  the  things  of  God:  and  that 
you  cry  unto  him  for  help.     For  what  hope  can  they  have 

'  riic  same.  p.  17. 


LIFE  AND   l,ABORS  OF  FLIAS  HICKS  175 

of  present  or  future  .i^ood,  or  of  everlasting-  happiness,  if 
they  reject  the  only  means  appointed  of  God  to  come  unto 
the  Father  through  Jesus  Christ,  tlie  messenger  of  (lod,  and 
of  the  new  covenant?"'* 

At  this  meeting-  Klias  Hicks  followed  Ann  Jones  in- 
vocal  comniunicaiion.  He  made  no  direct  reference  to 
wliat  she  said,  the  short  sermon  being  largely  a  reiteration 
touching  the  imier  revelation  to  the  souls  of  men,  as  the 
reprover  of  sin,  and  tlie  j)ower  which  kept  from  sinning, 
as  against  the  outward,  sacrificial  form  of  salvation.  In 
closing  his  remarks.  FJias  Hicks  made  this  statement ; 

"I  do  not  wish  to  detain  this  assembly  much  longer, 
but  1  want  that  we  should  cast  away  things  that  are  mys- 
terious, for  we  cannot  comprehend  mystery.  "Secret  things 
belong  to  God,  but  those  that  are  revealed  (that  are  under- 
stood), to  us  and  our  children."  And  those  that  are  secret 
can  never  be  found  out  by  the  prying  of  mortals.  Do  we 
suppose  for  a  moment — for  it  would  cast  an  indignity  upon 
God  to  suppose  that  he  had  laid  down  any  name  except  his 
own  by  which  we  can  have  communion  with  him.  It  is  a 
plain  w-ay,  a  simple  way  which  all  can  understand,  and  not 
be  under  the  necessity  to  go  to  a  neighbor,  and  to  say, 
"Know  thou  the  Lord?  for  all  shall  know  me,  from  the  least 
of  them  unto  the  greatest  of  them,'  as  said  Jeremy  the 
prophet.  It  is  bowing  down  to  an  ignorant  state  of  mind,  to 
suppose  that  there  is  no  other  power  whereby  we  can  come 
unto  God,  but  by  one  of  the  offspring  of  Abraham,  and  that 
we  have  need  to  go  back  to  the  law  which  was  given  to  the 
Israelites,  and  to  no  other  people.  He  has  never  made  any 
covenant  with  any  other  people,  but  that  which  he  made 
with  our  first  parents.  That  is  the  covenant  that  has  been 
made  with  all  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

"He  justifies  for  good  and  condemns  for  evil.  And 
although  every  action  is  to  be  from  the  operation  of  his 
power,  yet  he  has  given  us  the  privilege  to  obey  or  disobey  ; 
here  now  is  a  self-evident  truth :  as  they  have  the  liberty 
to  choose,  so  if  they  do  that  which  is  contrary  to  his  will, 
and  so  slay  the  Divine  life  in  the  soul :  and  thus  they  have 
slain  the  innocent  Lamb  of  God  in  the  soul,  which  is  the 
same  thing.     All  that  we  want,  is  to  return  to  the  inw^ard 

''  The  same,  p.  60. 


176  L1FL-:  AND   LABORS  (JF   ELIAS   HICKS 

light  in  the  soul.  The  Lord  had  declared  beforehand  unto 
them  in  plain  characters,  that  none  need  to  say,  'Know  ye 
the  Lord?  for  I  will  be  merciful  to  them,  I  will  forgive  their 
iniquity,  and  I  will  remember  their  sin  no  more.'  This 
was  equally  the  case  until  the  law  was  abolished :  until  he 
blotted  out  the  handwriting  of  the  law,  and  put  an  end  to 
outward  ordinances.  The  law  was  fulfilled  when  they  had 
crucified  him,  then  it  was  that  that  law  was  abolished  that 
consisted  in  making  their  atonements  which  all  had  to  make. 
"The  people  could  not  understand  the  doctrine  de- 
livered in  the  sermon  on  the  mount,  although  plainh" 
preached  to  them.  Jesus,  when  about  to  take  leave  of  his 
disciples,  left  this  charge  with  them:  'Tarry  at  Jerusalein 
until  the  Holy  Ghost  come  upon  you';  and  then,  and  not 
till  then,  were  they  to  bear  witness  unto  him.  He  told 
them  that  it  would  bring  everything  to  their  remembrance: 
everything  which  is  by  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  brought 
to  your  remembrance ;  therefore  he  says :  'All  things  shall 
be  brought  to  your  remembrance.'  They  would  not  then 
be  looking  to  anything  outward,  because  he  had  filled  them 
with  the  Spirit  of  truth.  What  is  this,  but  this  Comforter 
which  reproves  the  world  of  sin  ?  All  that  will  obey  the 
voice  of  this  reprover  in  the  soul  are  in  the  way  of  redemp- 
tion and  salvation.  'By  disobedience,  sin  entered  into  the 
world  and  death  by  sin :  but  life  and  immortality  is  brotight 
to  light  by  the  gospel.'  I  am  willing  to  leave  you,  and  I 
recommend  you  to  God,  and  the  power  of  his  grace,  which  is 
able  to  build  you  up,  as  you  are  faithful  to  its  operation."  *' 

The  last  meeting"  of  the  series  was  held  in  connection 
with  Nine  Partners  Quarterly  Meeting,  Fifth  niotith  9th. 
This  was  evidentlv  the  closing  session  of  the  Oiiarterl\ 
Meeting.  From  these  published  sermons  it  wotild  seem 
that  Elias  Hicks  and  George  Jones  were  the  only  Friends 
Avho  engaged  in  vocal  ministry  that  day.  There  was  nothing 
specially  relevant  to  the  controversy  going  on  iti  the  Society 
in  either  of  these  short  discoiii?cs. 

In  reading  this  collection  of  seiinons  one  cannot  a\oid 
the  conclusion  that,  apart  from  dissimilarity  in  phraseology, 
and  the  matters   involved   in   interpreting  Scripture,   these 

*  The  same,  p.  71. 


l.Il-~l':  AND    I.AHOkS   OF   RI.IAS   HICKS  177 

I'lit'iids  had  imicli  in  common.  Had  the}"  been  minded  to 
-^eek  for  tlie  common  <^"round.  ii  is  (|uite  probable  that  the_\' 
would  have  found  that  the\'  were  reall\-  (|uarrelin<;'  o\er 
ihe  minor,  rather  than  the  maior.  propositions. 

In  h'imhth  month.  1S2S.  Elias  Hicks  was  on  his  last 
religious  \isit  to  the  \\\"stern  Yearly  Meetings.  The  "sep- 
aration" in  the  Xew  \'ork  "Nearly  Meeting"  had  taken  place 
m  b'ifth  month,  the  trouble  then  passing  to  the  Quarterly 
and  particular  meetings.  It  reached  Xine  Partners  at  the 
( jnarterh'  Meeting  held  as  aboxe.  .\nn  b^ies  attended  this 
meeting,  the  last  sermon  in  the  little  \-olume  from  which 
the  extracts  gi\"en  in  this  chapter  are  taken  ha\ing  been 
preached  b}"  this  Friend.  There  was  little  new  matter  in 
this  sermon.  Much,  by  iiuiendo.  was  laid  at  the  door  of 
those  who  were  pronounced  unrirthodox.  and  who  consti- 
tuted a  majorit}'  of  .the  meeting. 

So  far  as  the  charge  of  persecution  is  concerned,  it  was 
repeatedb  employed  b\"  bdias  Hicks  and  his  sympathi;^ers 
in  describing  the  spirit  and  conduct  of  the  orthodox  part}". 
In  this  particular,  at  least,  the  disputants  on  l)oth  sides  were 
xery  much  alike.  Ann  J(Mies'  reference  to  throwing  down 
"his  elders  and  prophets"  contains  more  touching  the 
animus  of  the  controversy  than  the  few  words  really  indi- 
cate. As  will  be  somewhat  clearly  shown  in  these  pages. 
the  trouble  in  the  Societ}"  (piite  largel}'  had  reference  to 
authofit}'  in  the  church,  and  its  arbitrary  exercise  by  a  select 
few,  constituting  a  sort  of  spiritual  and  social  hferarchy  in 
the  monthl}"  lueetings.  It  w'as  this  atithoritative  class  which 
had  been  "thrown  down."  or  was  likely  to  be  so  repudiated. 

^^'e  would  by  no  means  claim  that  with  the  "separation" 
an  accomj^lished  fact,  the  body  of  Friends  not  of  the  ortho- 
dox part}"  thus  gathered  b}"  themselves  became  at  once  and 
contiiniousl}-  relieved  of  the  arbitrary  spirit.  The  hist(^r}" 
of  this  branch  of  the  Society  from   1827  to   1875.  and  in 


I7H  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  LLL'\S  IllCKS 

places  down  to  date,  would  entirely  disprove  any  such  claim. 
It  would  seem  that  wherever  the  Society  lost  ground  numer- 
ically, and  wherex'er  its  spiritual  life  dwindled,  it  was  due 
largely  because  some  sort  of  arbitrary  authority  ignored 
the  necessity  for  real  spiritual  unity,  and  discounted  the 
spiritual  democracy  upon  which  the  Society  of  Friends  was 
Ijased. 

The  "separation"  in  the  Quarterly  Meetings  in 
Dutchess  County  was  perfected  in  Eighth  month,  1828. 
Both  Anna  Braithwaite  and  Ann  Jones  were  in  attendance, 
and  evidently  took  part  in  the  developments  at  that  time. 
I^lias  Hicks  w'as  on  his  last  religious  visit  to  the  "far  west." 
Inf(»rming  partnership  letters  were  sent  to  Elias,  then  in 
Alt.  Pleasant,  Ohio,  by  Jaccjb  and  Deborah  Willetts,*  under 
date  of  Eighth  month  18,  1828.  Jacob  gave  brief  but  ex- 
plicit information  as  to  the  division  in  the  several  meetings. 
J^^jr  instance,  he  says  that  in  Oswego  Monthly  Aleeting  one- 
sixth  of  the  members  went  orthodox.  At  Creek,  about  one- 
fourth  left  to  form  an  (M'thodox  meeting,  about  the  same 
proportion  existing  at  Stanford.  Nine  Partners  seems  to 
ha\-e  been  the  center  of  the  dit^cult}',  the  orthodox  leader- 
ship apparently  having  been  more  vigorous  at  that  point. 
J^till.  about  three-fourths  of  the  members  refused  to  join 
the  orthodox.  A  \'erv  brief  a])preciati()n  of  the  trans- 
atlantic visitors  is  given  in  Jacob's  letter.  He  says:  "The 
Eng-lish  Friends  are  ver\-  industri(^us,  but  I  do  not  lind  that 


■^  Jacob  and  Deborah  Willetts  were  friendly  educators  in  the  first 
half  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Jacob  became  principal  of  Nine 
Partners  boarding  school  in  1803,  when  only  18  years  of  age,  and 
Deborah  Rogers  principal  of  the  girl's  department  in  1806,  when  at 
the  same  age.  Jacob  Willetts  and  Deborah  Rogers  were  married  in 
1812.  At  the  time  of  the  "separation,"  Nine  Partners'  school  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  Orthodox,  and  Jacob  and  Deborah  resigned  their 
positions,  and  started  a  separate  school,  which  they  conducted  success- 
fully for  nearly  thirty  years.  Jacob  was  the  author  of  elementary 
text  books  of  arithmetic  and  geography,  and  Deborah  was  an  ac- 
complished grammarian,  and  assisted  Gould  Brown  in  the  preparation 
of  his  once  well-known  English  Grammar. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS   OF   ELLAS   HICKS  179 

it    amounts    to    iinich.       I'^rieiuls    liaw    i^cnerallv    become 
acquainted  with  their  mancruvring." 

I)e1)oi"ah's  letter  \\as  hoth  ne\vs\-  and  personal,  and 
threw  interesting  sidelights  on  ihe  "separation"  experiences. 
At  the  close  of  a  sermon  by  Ann  Jones.  Eighth  month  5th, 
she  made  reference  to  the  sudden  death  of  a  woman 
J'^riend  of  the  orthodox  party,  which  is  thus  referred  to  in 
this  letter : 

"Perhaps  thou  wilt  hear  ere  this  reaches  thee  of  the 
death  of  Ann  Willis.  She  died  at  William  Warings  on  her 
way  home  from  Purchase  Quarterly  Meeting,  in  an  apo- 
plectic tit.  At  our  Quarterly  Meeting  Ann  Jones  told  us 
of  the  dear  departed  spirit  of  one  who  had  lived  an  un- 
spotted life,  who  passed  away  without  much  bodily  suffer- 
ing, and  whose  soul  was  now  clothed  in  robes  of  white,  sing- 
ing glory,  might  and  majesty  with  angels  forever  and  ever: 
which  amounted  nearly  to  a  funeral  song." 

We  make  the  following  extract  from  the  letter  of  Delv 
orah  Willetts  because  of  its  interesting  references  and  state- 
ments : 

"A  week  ago  I  returned  from  Stanford  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing held  at  Hudson.  All  the  English  force  was  there  save 
T.  Shillitoe  with  a  large  re-enforcement  from  New  York, 
but  they  were  headed  by  L^  men  and  25  women  of  the  com- 
mittee of  Friends,  and  a  great  many  attended  from  the 
neighboring  meetings,  Coeymans,  Rensalaerville,  Saratoga, 
&c.  The  city  was  nearly  full.  Anna  Braithwaite  and  suite 
took  lodgings  at  the  hotel.  It  was  the  most  boisterous 
meeting  I  ever  attended.  The  clerks  in  each  meeting  were 
orthodox,  but  Eriends  were  favored  to  appoint  others  who 
opened  the  meeting.  Anna  Braithwaite  had  much  to  say 
to  clear  up  the  charges  against  her  in  circulation  that  their 
expenses  had  been  borne  by  Eriends,  which  she  said  was 
false,  and  never  had  been  done  but  in  two  instances,  and 
mentioned  it  twice  or  three  times  that  her  dear  husband 
felt  it  a  very  great  pleasure  to  meet  all  expenses  she  might 
incur,  and  she  would  appeal  to  those  present  for  the  truth 
of  what  she  had  said,  and  then  Ann  Jones.  Claussa  Griffin. 
Ruth  Hallock,  Sarah  Upton  and  some  others  immediately 
attested  to  the  truth  of  it.     Oh.  how^  inconsistent  is  all  this 


l8o  I.IFK  AND   LABORS  OF   Kl.IAS   HICKS 

in  a  Friends'  niceting^.  She  alstj  s^^ave  a  long  statement  df 
the  separation  at  Yearly  Meeting,  but  she  was  reminded  of 
her  absence  at  the  time,  but  she  replied  Ann  Jones  harl 
informed  her.  She  accused  Friends  of  holding  erroneous 
doctrine  and  said  l^hebe  I.  ^^lerritt  did  not  believe  in  the 
atonement  for  sin.  Phebe  said  she  denied  the  charge,  when 
Anna  turning  and  looking  stern  in  her  face  said,  "Did  thou 
not  say,  Phebe  Merritt,  all  the  reproof  thou  felt  for  sin  was 
in  thy  own  Ijrcast?"  Phebe  then  arose  and  was  favored  to 
express  her  views  in  a  clear  way  with  an  affecting  cuxum- 
slance  that  she  experienced  in  her  childhood  that  brought 
such  a  solemnity  over  the  meeting  that  almost  disarmed 
Anna  of  her  hostile  proceedings.  She  stood  upon  her  feet 
ihe  while  ready  to  reply  but  began  in  a  different  tone  of 
voice,  and  changed  the  subject,  and  very  soon  after,  Ann 
Jones  made  a  move  to  adjourn  when  they  could  hold  Stan- 
ford Quarterly  Meeting,  which  was  seconded  by  several 
others  and  Friends  in  the  meantime  as  cordially  and 
silently  uniting  with  them  in  the  motion.  They  then 
retired  without  reading  an  adjournment,  I  afterwards 
learnt,  to  the  Presbyterian  Conference  room.  I  dined  in 
company  with  Willett  Hicks,  who  said  he  was  surj)rised  to 
see  so  few  go  with  them  after  ^ucli  a   noble  etiort." 


CHAPTER    XX. 
The  Experience  with  T.  ShilHtoe. 

The  lirst  day  after  his  arrival  in  America,  Tlinnia> 
Shilliloe  '  attended  Hester  Street  Meeting,  in  Xew  York. 
He  tells  that/'it  was  reported  that  he  had  come  over  to  helj) 
the  Friends  of  Elias  Hicks."  -  As  this  Friend  came  into 
collision  with  l^dias  several  times,  and  was  second  to  none 
in  \igor  and  virnlence  among  his  antagonists,  either 
domestic  or  foreign,  it  seems  proper  to  review  his  con- 
nection with  the  controversy,  hecanse  some  added  light  may 
llnis  he  thrown  on  the  s])irit  and  pnrpose  of  the  opposition 
to  Elias  Hicks. 

Of  the  exj^erience  on  that  first  meeting  m  America  the 
venerable  preacher  says:  *T  fonnd  it  hard  work  to  rise  npon 
my  feet,  bnt  believing  that  the  offer  of  the  best  of  all  helj) 
was  made.  I  ventnred  and  was  favored  to  clear  my  mind 
faith fnlly.  and  in  a  manner  I  apprehended  wonld  give  snch 
of  the  followers  of  Elias  Hicks  as  were  present  a  i)rett\ 
clear  idea  of  the  mistake  they  had  been  nnder  of  my  being 
come  over  to  help  their  unchristian  cause."  ^ 

He  had  not  been  seen  at  that  time  to  converse  with  n 

'  Thomas  ShilHtoe  was  born  in  London  "about  the  Second  month, 
1754,"  Ehas  Hicks  being  six  years  his  senior.  His  parents  were  not 
Friends.  At  one  time  his  father  kept  an  inn.  Joined  Grace  Church 
Street  Monthly  Meeting  in  London  abotit  1775.  Was  acknowledged 
a  minister  at  Tottenham  in  1790.  He  learned  the  grocery  business,  and 
afterward  entered  a  banking  house.  Finally  learned  shoemaker's  trade, 
and  had  a  shop.  Was  married  in  1778.  Came  to  America  in  1826,  ar 
riving  in  New  York,  Ninth  month  8th.  While  here  traveled  ex- 
tensively, visiting  certain  Indian  tribes.  In  1827  he  had  an  interview 
with  President  Andrew  Jackson.  He  left  New  York  for  Liverpool  in 
Eighth  month.  1820,  having  been  in  this  country  nearly  three  years. 
Thomas   ShilHtoe  died  in   1836. 

-"Journal  of  Thomas  ShilHtoe,"  Vol  2.  p.   150. 

'"Journal  of  Thomas  ShilHtoe."  Vol.  2,  p.   151. 

181 


i82  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELLAS   HICKS 

single  friend  of  Elias  Hicks,  and  there  is  no  evidence  that 
during  the  three  }'ears  he  was  in  America  he  mingled  at 
all  with  any  Friends  who  were  not  of  the  so-called  orthodox 
party. 

During  the  week  following  his  arri\al  in  this  Cduntrw 
Thomas  Shillitoe  visited  Jericho  b}-  wa}-  of  W'estljur}-.  Re- 
garding his  visit  he  says : 

"We  took  our  dinner  with  G.  Seaman  ;  alter  vvhicli  we 
proceeded  to  Jericho,  and  took  up  our  abode  this  night  with 
our  kind  friend.  Thomas  Willis.  In  passing  through  the 
village  of  Jericho,  Elias  Hicks  was  at  his  own  door ;  he 
invited  me  into  his  own  house  to  take  up  my  abode,  \\hich 
I  found  I  could  not  have  done,  even  had  we  not  previousl}' 
concluded  to  take  up  our  abode  with  T.  Willis.  I  refused 
his  offer  in  as  handsome  a  manner  as  I  well  knew  how. 
He  then  pressed  me  to  make  him  a  call ;  I  was  careful  to 
make  such  a  reply  as  would  not  make  it  binding  upon  me, 
although  we  had  to  pass  his  door  on  our  way  to  the  next 
meeting.  I  believe  it  was  safest  for  me  not  to  comply  with 
his  request."  * 

G.  Seaman,  mentioned  abo\e,  became  the  first  clerk  of 
the  Orthodox  Monthly  Meeting  of  W^estbury  and  Jericho, 
organized  after  the  "separation,"  and  Thomas  Willis  was 
the  P^riend  who  should  probabl}-  be  called  the  father  of 
the  opposition  to  Elias  Hicks.  Had  the  English  visitor 
determined  from  the  start  to  hear  nothing,  and  know  noth- 
ing but  one  side  of  the  controversy,  he  could  not  have  more 
fully  made  that  possible  than  by  the  intercourse  he  had  with 
Friends  on  this  continent. 

To  show  how  bent  he  was  not  to  be  inllnenced  or  con- 
taminated bv  those  not  considered  orthodox,  it  may  be 
noted  that  while  in  Jericho  he  was  visited  by  Friends  in  that 
neighborhood,  who  urged  him  to  call  on  them.  He  was  at 
first  inclined  to  acquiesce,  but  after  "waiting  wdiere  the 
divine  counsellor  is  to  be  met  with."  he  changed  his  mind. 

*  "Journal   of   Thomas   Sliillitoe."  Vol.    2.  p.    154. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  183 

remarking,  "I  afterwards  understood  some  of  tliese  indi- 
viduals were  of  Elias  Hicks's  party."  ' 

The  New  York  Yearly  Meeting  of  1827  was  attended 
by  all  of  the  ministering-  Friends  and  their  companions 
from  England,  viz:  Thomas  Shillitoe,  Elizabeth  Robson, 
George  and  Ann  Jones,  Isaac  and  Anna  Braithv^aite.  There 
seems  to  have  been  a  foreshadowing  of  trouble  in  this 
yearly  meeting.  Elizal^eth  Robson  asked  for  a  minute  to 
\isit  men's  meeting,  wliich  met  with  some  opposition,  and 
was  characterized  by  confusion  in  carrying  out  the  purpose. 
Elias  Hicks  says  nothing  about  the  matter  in  his  Journal, 
and  no  reference  was  made  to  this  Friend  in  his  personal 
correspondence.  The  English  Friends  left  New  York 
before  the  close  of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  to  attend  New 
England  Yearly  Meeting. 

It  is  not  our  jjurpose  to  follow  the  wanderings  of 
Thomas  Shillitoe  in  America.  He  was  at  the  New  York 
Yearly  Meeting  again  in  1828,  at  the  time  of  the  "separa- 
tion." Touching  this  occasion,  the  minutes  of  the  meeting 
in  question  furnish  some  information,  as  follows:  "Thomas 
Shillitoe,  who  is  in  this  country  on  a  religious  visit  from 
England,  objected  to  the  company  of  some  individuals  who 
were  present  with  us.  and  members  of  a  neighboring  yearly 
meeting,  stating  that  they  had  been  regularly  disowned," 
etc.  ^  For  thus  dictating  to  the  yearly  meeting,  Thomas 
Shillitoe  presented  this  justification  : 

"I  obtained  a  certificate  from  my  own  monthly  meeting 
and  quarterly  meeting,  and  also  one  from  the  Select  Yearly 
Meeting  of  Friends  held  in  London,  expressive  of  their 
concurrence  with  my  traveling  in  the  work  of  the  ministry 
on  this  continent,  which  certificates  were  read  in  the  last 

'"Journal  of  Thomas   Shillitoe,"  Vol.  2,  p.   154. 

^  From  Minute  Book  of  New  York  Yearly  Meeting,  session  of 
1828. 


i84  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF   LLIAS   HICKS 

Yearly  Meeting  of  New  York,  and  entered  in  the  records 
of  that  Yearly  Meeting;  such  being  the  case,  it  constitutes 
me  as  much  a  member  of  this  Yearly  Meeting  as  anv  other 
member  of  it."  ** 

This  may  iiave  been  according  to  good  societ}-  order 
and  etiquette  eighty  odd  years  ago.  but  would  hardly  pass 
current  in  our  time.  For  a  visitor  in  a  meeting  to  object 
t(i  the  presence  of  other  visitors,  on  the  ground  of  rumor 
and  with  no  regular  or  official  evidence  of  the  charges 
against  tlieni.  would  probably  jnit  the  oljjector  into  <lisfa\'or. 
Rut  we  are  not  warranted  in  passing  harsh  judgment  in 
the  nineteenth-century  case.  The  English  Friends,  right  or 
wrong,  came  to  this  country  under  the  impression  that  the\' 
were  divinely  sent  to  save  the  Society  of  Friends  in  America 
from  going  to  the  bad.  At  the  worst,  it  was  a  case  of 
assuming  the  care  of  too  man}'  consciences. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Xew  \'ork  ^'earl^■  Meeting 
of  1828,  l)oth  Thomas  Shillitoe  and  Elias  Hicks  started  on 
a  western  trip.  Elias  seems  to  have  preceded  the  English 
I'^riend  l)y  a  few  days.  The  two  men  met  at  W'estland.' 
At  this  ]>lace  lliomas  says  that  Elias  denied  that  Jesus  was 
the  son  of  God.  until  after  the  baptism,  and  opposed  tin- 
proper  observance  of  the  Sabbath."*  Of  course,  the  state- 
ments of  Elias  were  controverted  by  his  fellow-preacher, 
or.  at  least,  an  attempt  to  do  so  was  made.  It  should  be 
understood  that  Elias  denied  that  Jesus  was  the  son  of  God 
in  the  sense  in  which  Thomas  conceived  he  was.  and  he 
undoubtedly  antagonized  the  obser\ance  of  the  Sal)bath  in 
ihe  slavish  wav  which  considered  that  man  was  secondary 
to  the  institution. 

Part  of  the  mission  of  our  English  Friend  from  thi^ 

'■"Journal  of  Thomas   Shillitoe.'"  Vol.   2,  p.  311. 

'  Sec  page  47  of  this  book. 

'"Journal   of   Tliomas   Shillitoe."  \'ol.   2.  p.  328. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  185 

time  seems  to  have  been  to  oppose  Elias  Hicks,  and  turn 
the  minds  of  the  people  against  liim.  They  both  attended 
Redstone  Monthly  Meeting.  Here  Elias  presented  his 
minute  of  unity  and  the  other  evidences  of  good  faith  which 
he  possessed.  At  this  point  Thomas  says :  "Observing  a 
disposition  in  most  of  the  members  of  the  meeting  to  have 
these  minutes  read  in  the  meeting.  I  proposed  to  the  meet- 
ing to  consider  how  far  with  propriety  they  could  read 
them;  after  their  Meeting  for  Sufferings  had  given  forth 
a  testimou}'  against  the  doctrines  of  Elias  Hicks.  But  a 
determination  to  read  his  minutes  being  manifested.  Friends 
were  obliged  to  submit."  '* 

Taken  altogether,  this  is  a  remarkable  statement.  The 
"testimony"  referred  to  was  the  "declaration  of  faith"  \" 
published  by  the  Philadelphia  Meeting  f(_)r  Sufferings. 
This  document  did  not  mention  Elias  Hicks,  and  failed  to 
secure  the  approval  of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  before  the 
"separation."  It  is  evident  that  "most  of  the  members'' 
were  with  Elias  Hicks  on  this  occasion.  Only  the  few 
opposers  were  "Friends" ;  so  the  statement  infers. 

The  two  preachers  are  next  heard  from  at  Redstone 
Quarterly  Meeting,  where  Thomas  was  disposed  to  practice 
an  act  of  self-denial.  He  told  the  meeting  that  he  preferred 
his  own  minute  should  not  be  read,  if  Elias  Hicks's  was 
received,  ^^'e  have  some  evidence  from  Elias  Flicks  him- 
self regarding-  this  incident,  in  a  letter  written  to  Valentine 
and  Abigail  Hicks,  from  Pittsburg,  Eighth  month  5.  1828, 
stating  the  proposition  of  Thomas  Shillitoe  regarding  his 
minute.  Elias  says :  "Friends  took  him  at  his  word,  and 
let  him  know  that  they  should  not  minute  it,  but  insisted 
that  mine  should  be  minuted,  expressing  very  general  satis- 
faction with  my  company  and  service,  and  reprobated  his 

*  "Journal  of  Thomas   Shillitoe,"  Vol.  2,  p.  330. 

"  See  page  139  of  this  book.  24 


i86  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

in  plain  terms,  and  charged  him  and  his  companion  with 
breach  of  the  order  and  disciphne  of  the  Society,  and 
insisted  that  the  elders  and  overseers  should  stop  at  the 
close  of  the  meeting  and  see  what  could  be  done  to  put  a 
stop  to  such  disorderly  conduct." 

Thomas  then  says  that  he  exposed  Elias  Hicks  as 
an  impostor  "in  attempting  as  he  did  to  impose  himself  upon 
the  public  as  a  minister  in  unity  with  the  Society  of 
P'riends ;  the  Society  having,  by  a  printed  document,  de- 
clared against  his  doctrine,  and  himself  as  an  approved 
minister."  ^^  Evidently  this  was  another  reference  to  the 
much-lauded  "declaration  of  faith,"  although  this  did  not 
represent  an  actually  authoritative  declaration  of  the  So- 
ciety. At  its  best,  Philadelphia's  Meeting  for  Sufferings 
was  not  the  Society  of  Friends ;  but  the  people  still  wanted 
to  hear  Elias.  They  apparently  preferred  to  interpret  him 
at  first-hand. 

Thomas  Shillitoe  tells  us  that  when  they  crossed  the 
Ohio  River  he  talked  with  the  woman  at  the  ferry,  who 
protested  against  the  ideas  of  Elias  Hicks,  and  then  remarks : 
"She  kept  a  tavern,  and  I  left  with  her  one  of  the  declara- 
tions, requesting  her  to  circulate  it  amongst  her  neigh- 
bors." ^^  Evidently  the  publican,  in  this  case,  was  sound  in 
the  faith  as  held  by  the  English  preacher. 

Mt.  Pleasant  was  next  visited  by  both  Friends,  pre- 
ceding and  at  Ohio  Yearly  Meeting.  They  do  not  seem  to 
have  come  personally  into  collision  at  this  point,  and  insofar 
as  either  makes  reference  to  the  occurrences  there,  they  are 
in  substantial  agreement.'^  Thomas  Shillitoe  bears  mildly- 
veiled  testimonv  to  the  desire  of  the  people  to  hear  Elias 
Hicks,  in  the  following  statement :    "From  the  great  con- 

"  "Journal  of  Thomas  Shillitoe,"  Vol.  2.  p.  331. 
"  "Journal  of  Thomas  .Shillitoe,"  \'o].  2.  p  332. 
"  For  other  reference  to  this  matter,  see  page  49  of  this  book. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  187 

course  of  people  we  passed  in  the  afternoon  on  the  way 
to  Short  Creek  Meeting,  where  Ehas  Hicks  was  to  be,  I 
had  cherished  a  liope  we  shonhl  liaxe  had  a  quiet  meeting 
at  Mt.  Pleasant."'^  But  the  contrary  w^as  the  case;  to 
whom  the  blame  was  due,  the  reader  may  decide. 

It  is  to  be  presumed  that  these  two  Friends,  both  of 
whom  performed  vahiable  service  for  the  Society,  according 
to  their  hghts  and  gifts,  ne\er  met  after  their  w'estern 
experience.  For  the  want  of  understanding  each  other, 
thev  went  their  wa}'  not  as  fellow-servants,  but  as  strangers, 
if  not  enemies.  The  unity  of  the  spirit  was  obliterated  in 
a  demand  f(^r  uniformity  of  speculative  doctrine. 

"  "Journal  of  Thomas  Shillitoe,  Vol.  2,  p.  343. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

Disownment  and  Doctrine, 

The  ''separation"  was  accomplished  in  most  meetings 
in  the  East  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  orthodox  party,  after 
which  they  set  up  new  meetings  for  worship  and  discipline. 
In  a  minority  of  meetings  the  orthodox  held  the  property 
and  the  organization,  and  the  other  Friends  withdrew.  At 
Jericho  and  Westbury  the  great  majority  of  the  members 
remained,  and  continued  to  occupy  the  old  meeting-houses. 
The  orthodox  who  separated  from  the  Westbury  and 
Jericho  Alonthly  Meetings  organized  the  Alonthly  Aleeting 
of  Westbury  and  Jericho,  as  has  already  been  mentioned. 

In  1829,  when  the  new  monthly  meeting  was  formed, 
the  membership  of  Westbury  Monthly  Meeting  was  as 
follows:  Westbury  Preparative  Meeting,  193;  Matinecock 
Preparative  Meeting,  121;  Cow  N^eck  (now  Manhassett), 
65  :  total,  379.  Of  this  number,  accessions  to  tlie  orthodox 
were :  From  Westbury  Preparative  Meeting,  t,2  ;  Matine- 
cock Preparative  Meeting,  2 ;  Cow  N^eck  Preparative  Meet- 
ing, 5  ;  total,  39.  In  Jericho  the  members  of  the  monthly 
meeting.  Fifth  month,  1829,  numbered  225.  Of  this  nun> 
her,  nine  left  to  join  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Westbury 
and  Jericho,  and  five  were  undetermined  in  their  choice. 
Giving  the  latter  meeting  the  benefit  of  the  dou1)t.  and 
assigning  to  it  the  five  uncertain  members,  the  meeting  that 
disowned  Elias  Hicks  was  composed  of  fifty-three  meiubers. 
of  whom  thirteen  were  minors  and  five  of  only  mild 
allegiance. 

A  simple  mathematical  calculation  will  show  that  the 
188 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  189 

Monthly  Meeting  of  Westburv  and  Jericho  contained  10  per 
cent.  of  the  Friends  who  had  been  members  of  the  two 
original  monthly  meetings,  which  meetings  still  survived, 
retaining  90  per  cent,  of  the  members.  These  figures  will 
throw  suggestive  light  on  what  follows. 

It  was  the  Westbury  and  Jericho  Monthly  Meeting 
which,  on  the  29th  of  Fourth  month,  1829,  adopted  the 
■'testimony  against  Elias  Hicks,"  called  his  disownment.  It 
contained  specified  charges,  wdiich  may  be  condensed  as 
follow^s :  He  denied  the  influence  or  existence  of  an  evil 
spirit ;  doubted  the  fall  of  man,  and  his  redemption  through 
Christ;  endeavored  to  "destroy  a  belief  in  the  miraculous 
conception  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ";  also 
rejected  a  "belief  in  his  holy  offices,  his  propitiatory  offer- 
ing for  the  redemption  of  mankind ;  and  has  denied  his 
resurrection  and  ascension  into  heaven" ;  "he  also  denied 
his  mediation  and  intercession  with  the  Father."  He  was 
charged  with  too  much  industry  in  promulgating  his  views, 
causing  great  numbers  to  embrace  them,  "and  has  at  length 
become  the  leader  of  a  sect  distinguished  by  his  name." 
He  was  also  charged  with  meeting  with,  and  countenancing 
by  his  presence  and  conduct,  those  who  had  "separated" 
from  Friends.  This  had  reference  to  many  meetings  of  a 
large  majority  of  the  Society  held  at  various  places  in  1828. 
The  "testimony"  also  alleges  that  he  had  many  times  been 
tenderly  admonished  and  advised,  but  that  he  and  his  friends 
"prevented  the  timely  exercise  of  the  discipline  in  his  case." 
It  all,  without  doubt,  sounded  very  formidable  to  the  little 
company  of  Friends  who  formulated  and  issued  the 
document. 

This  was  a  remarkable  document  in  more  ways  than 
one.  The  meeting  which  issued  it  assumed  an  authority  in 
conduct  hard  now  to  understand,  and  asserted  as  facts  mere 
assumptions,  and  yet  we  are  bound  to  believe  that,  in  the 
main,   they  thought  they  were  performing  God's   service. 


190  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL'\S  HICKS 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  orthodox  Friends,  in  1829. 
e\ery\vhere  operated  on  the  theory  tliat  those  who  con- 
sidered themseh-es  "sound  in  doctrine,"  no  matter  how  few 
in  numbers,  were  tlie  Society  of  Friends,  in  direct  descent 
from  the  founders  of  the  faith.  It  was  their  rehgious  duty 
to  excommunicate  all  wdiom  they  considered  unsound,  e\en 
though  those  disowned  might  constitute  tiie  oxerwhelming 
portion  of  the  meeting.  That  this  was  the  sincere  convic- 
tion of  the  orthodox  Friends  all  through  the  "separation" 
period,  and  also  before  and  after  it,  is  a  demonstrable  fact 
of  histor}'.  There 'was  also  a  marked  disposition  to  adhere 
to  tradition  and  to  cling  to  former  precedents.  If  there 
had  ever  been  a  time  when  Friends  had  been  disowned  on 
account  of  theological  opinions,  the  practice  should  be  kept 
up,  and  practically  continued  forever. 

That  there  was  a  considerable  amount  of  precedent 
for  disowning  Friends  on  points  of  doctrine  is  undoubtedly 
true.  In  the  famous  New  Jersey  Chancery  trial,  Samuel 
Parsons  gave  several  cases  of  such  disownment.^  They 
involved  cases  in  half  a  dozen  monthly  meetings,  and 
included  charges  as  follows :  Denying  the  miraculous  con- 
ception ;  denying  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ ;  denying  the 
authenticity  of  the  Scriptures:  promulgating  the  belief  that 
the  souls  of  the  wdcked  would  be  annihilated. 

The  orthodox  Friends  might  have  done  still  better,  and 
cited  the  case  of  John  Bartram,-  the  father  of  American 
botany,  who  was  disowned  by  Darby  Monthly  Meeting  in 
1758,  for  deistical  and  other  unorthodox  opinions.     It  has 


'  "Foster's  Report,"  Vol.   i,  p.  171. 

-  John  Bartram,  born  near  Darby,  Pa.,  Third  month  23,  1699. 
Was  the  earhest  native  American  botanist.  He  died  Ninth  month 
22,  1777.  Bartram  traveled  extensively  in  the  American  colonies  in 
pursuit  of  his  botanical  studies  and  investigations.  He  established 
the  Bartram  Botanical  Gardens  near  the  Schuykill  River,  which  are 
still  often  visited. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  191 

been  supposed  that  Bartrani  was  disowned  by  J^'riends  tot- 
placing  the  fohowing  inscription  over  his  door : 

"  "Tis   God  alone,  Almighty   Lord, 
The  Holy  One  by  me  adored. 
John   Bartram,   1770." 

As  this  sentiment  is  dated  twehe  years  after  the  (Hs- 
ownment,''  it  is  evident  that  it  was  not  the  primary  cause 
of  the  action  taketi  by  Darby  Monthly  Meeting. 

During  the  period  of  repressioti  in  the  Society,  last- 
ing frotn  about  1700  to  1850,  it  was  not  hard  to  find  prece- 
dent for  disowtiing  metnbers  on  almost  any  groutid,  so  that 
the  treatment  of  Elias  Hicks,  on  account  of  alleged 
"utisound"  doctrine  calls  for  no  complaint  oti  the  score  of 
regularity.  Disowning  tiiembers  for  that  cause  iti  oiie 
branch  of  Friends  to-day  would  be  practically  iticoticeivable. 
Its  wisdotn  at  any  time  was  doubtful,  and,  in  spite  of 
precedettts,  the  practice  was  not  getieral. 

The  main  point  in  this  tratisaction,  however,  is  that 
the  meeting  which  issued  the  "testitnotiy"  against  Elias 
Hicks  had  no  jurisdiction  iti  the  case.  As  a  tnatter  of  fact, 
he  was  never  a  tnetnber  of  the  tneetitig  iti  questioti,  utiless  it 
be  asstimed  that  10  per  cetit.  of  two  tiionthly  tneetitigs  can 
Hock  by  tlietnselves,  organize  a  new  tneeting,  and  take  over 
the  90  per  cent,  without  their  ktrowledge  or  cotisent. 

In  the  main,  we  do  tiot  care  to  consider  or  discuss  the 
points  in  the  "testimotiy"  under  consideration.  Those  who 
have  folhnved  the  pages  of  this  book  thus  far  will  be  able 
to  decide  whether  the  tnain  causes  as  stated  by  those  who 
prepared  atid  approved  the  document  were  true  in  fact,  and 
whether  they  would  have  constituted  a  sufficietit  reasott  for 
the  action  of  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Westbury  and  Jericho, 
had  it  possessed  any  authority  in  the  case. 


^"Memorials    of     John    Bartram    and    Humphrey    ^larshall,"    by 
William   Darlington,    1849,   p.   42. 


192  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL'\S   HICKS 

Just  what  E]ias  Hicks  tliought  regarding  the  matter  of 
Society  and  discipHnar}-  anthorit}'  in  his  case,  we  have  docu- 
mentary evidence.  In  a  pri\ate  letter  he  said:  "For  liow 
can  they  disown  those  wdio  never  attended  their  meetings, 
nor  never  had  seen  the  inside  of  their  new-hnilt  meeting- 
houses, and  who  ne\er  acknowledged  their  little  separate 
societies?  Would  it  not  be  as  rational  and  consistent  with 
right  order  for  a  Presbyterian  or  a  Methodist  society  to 
treat  with  and  disown  us  for  not  attending  their  meetings, 
and  not  acknowledging  their  creed?"* 

There  is  one  point  in  the  "testimony"  which  cannot  so 
easilv  or  reasonably  be  ignored.  It  says  that  Elias  Hicks 
"has  at  length  become  the  leader  of  a  sect,  distinguished  by 
his  name,  yet  unjustly  assuming  the  character  of  Friends." 
From  the  assumed  standpoint  of  those  who  made  this  state- 
ment of  fact,  it  had  no  warrant.  That  body  of  Friends  in. 
at  least,  the  Yearly  Meetings  of  New  York.  Philadelphia, 
and  Baltimore,  wdiich  at  the  time  of  the  "separation"  housed 
two-thirds  of  all  the  members,  was  as  much  entitled  to  be 
called  Friends,  and  assume  their  "character,"  as  the  mi- 
noritv.  The  distinguishing  epithet  w^as  not  of  their  select- 
ing or  adoption,  and  those  who  applied  it  could  scarcely  with 
propriety  force  it  upon  those  wdio  did  not  claim  it  or  w^ant  it. 
As  for  leadership,  the  outcome  in  1827-28  was  accomplished 
without  either  the  presence  or  assistance  of  Elias  Hicks  in 
a  majoritv  of  cases.  If  those  who  left  the  parent  meetings 
and  set  up  meetings  of  their  own  were  the  "separatists," 
then,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  the  name  belonged  to  the  party 
that  opposed  Elias  Hicks,  and  not  to  that  body  of  Friends 
who  objected  to  the  Society  being  divided  or  perpetuated 
because  of  the  personality  or  the  preaching  of  any  one  man. 

It  has  to  be  said  that  the  disow-ning  at  the  time  of  the 
"separation"   was  not  all  on  one  side.      Jericho   Monthly 


'Letter  to  Johnson  Legg.  Twelfth   month   15,   1829. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELL-XS   HICKS  193 

Meetiiii;-  "lestii'ied  a.^ainst"  at  least  four  of  the  (jrthodox 
part}-.  But  in  e\cry  such  case,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  no 
charg-es  regarthng  doctrine  were  made  against  any.  The 
(hsownnients  took  place  because  the  i)ersons  involved  had  be- 
come connected  with  other  meetings,  and  did  not  attend  the 
gatherings  of  tliat  branch  of  Friends  who  issued  disown- 
ments.  Both  sides  undoubtedl}-  did  many  tilings  at  the 
time  which  later  would  ha\'e  been  impossible. 

Klias  Hicks  cvidentlx'  approved  the  general  order  of 
the  Society  in  his  time  touching  disownments.  In  a  letter 
directed  to  "M}-  Unknown  Friend,"  but  having  no  date,  he 
deals  with  the  disownment  cpiestion.  He  goes  on  to  say 
that  it  had  been  the  practice  of  the  Society  to  disown  mem- 
bers for  more  than  a  century,  when  such  nieml)ers  had 
dcN'iated  "from  the  established  order  of  Society,"  and  he 
reaches  the  conclusion  that  not  to  follow  this  course  would 
lead  to  "ccMifusion  and  anarchy."  He  then  says:  "l^hese 
things  considered,  it  appears  to  me  the  most  rational  and 
prudent,  when  a  particular  member  of  any  society  dissents 
in  some  particular  tenet  from  the  rest  of  that  society,  if 
such  dissent  lireak  communion  and  render  it  necessary  in 
the  judgment  of  such  society  that  a  separation  take  place 
between  them,  that  it  be  done  in  the  same  way,  and  agree- 
able to  the  general  [iractice  of  such  society  in  like  cases." 

It  is  quite  certain,  howe\'er,  that  Elias  Flicks  did  not 
think  that  disputed  points  of  doctrine  offered  a  sufficient 
ground  for  disownment  in  the  Society  of  Friends.  In  a 
letter  to  I^a\-id  Evans,  \vritten  at  Jericho,  Twelfth  month 
25,  1829,  he  says:  "I  apprehend  that  if  the  Friends  who 
took  part  in  the  controversy  on  the  side  of  the  miraculous 
conception,  and  those  on  the  opposition,  will  full\'  examine 
both  sides  of  the  (piestion,  they  will  find  themselves  more  or 
less  in  error,  as  neither  can  produce  sufficient  evidence  to 
enforce  a  rational  conviction  on  others.     .     .     .     Surely. 

25 


194  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

then,  we  who  beheve  in  the  miraculous  conception  ought 
not  to  censure  our  brethren  in  profession  for  having  a  dif- 
ferent opinion  from  ours,  and  especially  as  we  have  no 
knowledge  of  the  subject  in  any  wise,  but  from  history  and 
tradition.  Surely,  then,  both  parties  are  very  far  off  the 
true  Christian  foundation  for  keeping  up  the  controversy, 
inasmuch  as  it  never  has  had  the  least  tendency  to  gather 
on  the  one  hand  or  the  other,  but  always  to  scatter  and 
divide,  and  still  has  the  same  baneful  tendency." 

The  reader  will  not  fail  to  consider  that  at  this  late 
period  Elias  Hicks  reiterates  his  personal  belief  in  the 
miraculous  conception,  although  the  ''testimony"  of  dis- 
ownment  against  him  charged  that  he  was  "endeavoring  to 
destroy  a  belief  in  that  doctrine."  Whatever  may  have 
been  his  belief  regarding  the  matter,  it  is  clear  that  he  did 
not  consider  acceptance  or  rejection  of  the  doctrine  a  deter- 
mining qualitv  in  maintaining  a  really  Christian  fellowship. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 
After  the   "Separation." 

A  LETTER  dated  Solebury,  Pa.,  Sixth  month  21,  1828, 
told  of  some  experiences  on  his  last  western  tri^).  It  was 
addressed  to  his  son-in-law,  Valentine  Hicks.  On  the  jour- 
ney from  jcriclio  to  New  York,  Elias  was  ver)'  much 
annoyed,  if  not  vexed,  by  the  crowds  of  "vain  and  foolish 
l)eople  coming  from  the  city  and  its  suburbs  to  see  horses 
trot."  "How  ridiculous  and  insignificant,"  he  says,  "is  such 
foolish  conduct  for  professed  rational  beings !  I  can 
scarcely  concei\e  in  thought  an  epithet  degrading  enough  to 
give  a  just  estimate  of  such  irrational  conduct." 

The  "separation"  had  just  been  accomplished  in  the  New 
York  Yearly  Meeting,  and  as  this  was  the  first  visit  he  had 
made  to  the  local  meetings  and  Friendly  neighborhoods 
since  that  event,  it  is  a  matter  of  interest  to  learn  from  his 
own  hand  how  he  was  received  by  Friends  in  the  meetings. 
Rose  and  Hester  Street  Meetings,  in  New  York,  were 
attended  the  First-day  after  leaving  home.  Elias  says,  in 
the  letter  mentioned :  "They  were  both  large,  solemn  meet- 
ings, showing  evidentl}'  the  cc^mfort  and  benefit  Friends 
have  deri\'ed  from  the  orthodox  troubles,  (they)  having 
separated  themselves  from  us."  This  may  ha\'e  been  the 
superficial  view  of  many  who  were  prominent  in  sustaining 
Elias  Hicks.  They  failed  to  see,  as  did  their  opponents, 
that  the  "separation"  no  matter  which  side  went  o'ff,  was  a 
violation  of  the  real  spirit  of  Quakerism.  It  was  an  un- 
fortunate acknowledgment  that  "unity  of  the  spirit"  was  a 
failure,  if  it  required  absolute  uniformity  of  doctrine  for 
its  maintenance. 

IQ3 


196  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

Passing"  over  to  Xew  Jersex',  he  reports  universal 
kindly  treatment.      In  tliis  partienlar  he  remarks: 

"Indeed  we  have  found  nothing  in  the  least  degree  to 
discourage  or  impede  our  progress,  unless  it  be  an  excess 
of  kindness  from  our  friends,  who  can  hardly  give  us  up 
to  pass  on,  without  favoring  them  with  a  visit  in  their  own 
houses.  And  not  only  Friends,  but  many  who  are  not 
members  manifest  much  friendly  regard  and  respect.  On 
Fourth-day  we  attended  Friends'  I^Ionthly  fleeting  for 
Railway  and  Plainfield  held  at  Plainfield,  Friends  having 
given  their  neighbors  notice  of  our  intention  to  be  there, 
it  was  largely  attended  by  those  of  other  professions,  and 
some  of  the  orthodox  Friends,  contrary  to  the  expectation 
of  Friends  also  attended.  It  was  truly  a  very  solemn  and 
instructive  good  meeting,  in  which  truth  reigned.  I  was 
truly  comforted  in  the  meeting  for  discipline  in  viewing 
Friends'  order,  and  the  unity  and  harmony  that  prevailed, 
and  the  brotherly  condescension  that  was  manifested  in 
transacting  their  business." 

Elias  Hicks  evidently  possessed  what  might  be  called 
a  grain  of  humor.  In  Eleventh  month,  1828,  when  prac- 
tically all  of  the  "separations"  had  been  accomplished,  he 
wrote  to  his  wife  from  Redstone.  Pa.-  He  had  not  been 
getting  letters  from  home  as  he  desired,  and  especially  was 
that  true  regarding  the  much-valued  missives  from 
Jenn'ma.  He,  therefore,  says,  toward  the  end  of  this  par- 
ticular epistle:  "If  I  do  not  receive  some  direct  account 
from  liome  at  one  or  both  of  these  places  (  Alexandria  or 
Baltimore).  I  shall  be  ready  to  conclude  that  my  friends 
liax'e  forgotten  me  or  turned  orthodox." 

Evidently  there  had  been  a  readjustment  of  society 
conditions  in  this  neighborhood.  He  says  :  "Divers  friends. 
whose  names  I  have  forgotten,  and  some  wlio  have  never 
seen  thee.  Init  love  thee  on  my  account,  desired  to  be  affec- 
tionately remembered  to  thee.  Indeed,  love  and  harmony 
so  abound  among  Friends  in  these  parts,  and  the  more  they 
are  persecuted,  the  more  love  abounds,  insomuch  that  T  have 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  197 

observed  to  them  in  some  places,  that  if  they  continued 
faitliful  to  the  openings  of  truth  on  the  mind,  that  they 
would  so  exalt  the  standard  of  love  and  light,  that  tlie  old 
adage  would  he  renewed,  'See  how  the  Quakers  love  one 
another.'  " 

Returning  from  the  long  western  trip,  considered  in 
Chapter  VI,  Elias  was  met  in  New  York  by  his  wife  and 
daughter  Elizabeth,  where  Westlnu-y  Quarterly  Meeting- 
was  attended.  Many  near  and  dear  Friends  greeted  the 
aged  minister,  inwardly,  if  not  outwardly,  congratulating 
him  upon  his  safe  return  home,  and  the  labors  so  faithfully 
performed.  In  mentioning  the  event,  Elias  says:  "It  was 
truly  a  season  of  mutual  rejoicing,  and  my  spirit  was  deeply 
humbled  under  a  thankful  sense  of  the  Lord's  preserving 
power  and  adorable  mercy,  in  carrying  me  through  and 
over  all  opposition,  both  within  and  without.  He  caused 
all  to  work  together  for  good,  and  the  promotion  of  his  own 
glorious  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  earth,  and 
landed  me  safe  in  the  bosom  of  my  dear  family  and  friends 
at  home,  and  clothed  my  spirit  with  the  reward  of  sweet 
peace  for  all  my  labor  and  travail.  Praises,  everlasting 
high  praises  be  ascribed  unto  our  God,  for  his  mercy 
endureth  forever."  ^ 

Dark  days  were  approaching,  and  the  heavy  hand  of  a 
great  sorrow  was  about  to  be  laid  upon  th'is  strong  man, 
who  had  buffeted  many  storms,  and  who  seemed  now  to  be 
feeling  a  period  of  calm  and  quiet.  But  we  shall  let  Elias 
Hicks  tell  the  details  in  his  own  words: 

"Soon  after  my  return  from  the  aforesaid  journey,  I  had 
to  experience  a  very  severe  trial  and  affliction  in  the  removal 
of  my  dearly  beloved  wife.  She  was  taken  down  with  a 
cold,  and  although,  for  a  number  of  days,  we  had  no  antici- 
pation of  danger  from  her  complaint,  yet  about  five  days 

'  "Journal,"  p.  425. 


igS  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

after  she  was  taken,  the  disorder  appeared  to  settle  on  her 
lungs,  and  it  brought  on  an  inflammation  which  terminated 
in  a  dissolution  of  her  precious  life,  on  the  ninth  day  from 
the  time  she  was  taken  ill.  She  had  but  little  bodily  pain, 
yet  as  she  became  weaker,  she  suffered  from  shortness  of 
breathing";  but  before  her  close,  she  became  perfectly  tran- 
quil and  easy,  and  passed  away  like  a  lamb,  as  though 
entering  into  a  sweet  sleep,  without  sigh  or  groan,  or  the 
least  bodily  pain,  on  the  17th  of  Third  month,  1829:  And 
her  precious  spirit,  I  trust  and  believe,  has  landed  safely  on 
the  angelic  shore,  'where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling, 
and  the  weary  are  at  rest.'  To  myself,  to  whom  she  was  a 
truly  affectionate  wife,  and  to  our  children,  whom  she  en- 
deavored, b}'  precept  and  example,  to  train  up  in  the  paths 
of  virtue,  and  to  guard  and  keep  out  of  harm's  way,  her 
removal  is  a  great  and  irreparable  loss  :  and  nothing  is  left 
to  us  in  that  behalf,  but  a  confident  belief  and  an  unshaken 
hope,  that  our  great  loss  is  her  still  greater  gain ;  and 
although  the  loss  and  trial,  as  to  all  my  external  blessings, 
are  the  greatest  I  have  ever  met  with,  or  ever  expect  to 
have  to  endure,  yet  I  have  a  hope,  that,  though  separated. 
I  may  be  preserved  from  mourning  or  complaining;  and 
that  I  may  continually  keep  in  view  the  unmerited  favour 
dispensed  to  us,  by  being  preserved  together  fifty-eight 
years  in  one  unbroken  bond  of  endeared  affection,  which 
seemed  if  possible  to  increase  with  time  to  the  last  moment 
of  her  life ;  and  which  neither  time  nor  distance  can  lessen 
or  dissolve ;  but  in  the  spiritual  relation  I  trust  it  will 
endure  for  ever,  where  all  the  Lord's  redeemed  children  are 
one  in  him,  who  is  God  over  all,  in  all,  and  through  all. 
blessed  forever.  She  was  buried  on  the  19th,  and  on  this 
solemn  occasion,  the  Lord,  who  is  strength  in  weakness, 
enabled  me  to  bear  a  public  and,  I  trust,  a  profitable  testi- 
mony to  the  virtues  and  excellences  of  her  long  and  con- 
sistent life."  " 

Regarding  the  funeral  of  Jemima  Hicks,  and  its  after- 
math, rumor  has  been  more  or  less  busy.  Tliat  Elias  spoke 
on  this  occasion  is  certain.  It  was  his  eighty-first  birthday. 
His  remarks  were  undoubtedly  in  harmony,  both  as  to  the 
matter  and  the  hope  of  a  future  reunion,  with  the  extract 


"Journal."  p    425. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  199 

printed  above.  There  is  in  existence  what  purports  to  be 
matter  copied  from  a  Poughkeepsie  newspaper  relating  to 
this  event.  The  statement  is  supplemented  by  a  "poem," 
entitled  "Orthodox  Reflections  on  the  Remarks  Made  by 
Elias  Hicks  at  His  Wife's  Funeral."  These  verses  are 
both  theological  and  savage.  Elias  is  assured  that,  because 
of  his  belief,  he  cannot  hope  to  "rest  in  heaven,"  or  meet 
his  wife  there.  What  is  strange,  however,  is  that  verses, 
signed  "Elias  Hicks,"  and  in  reply  to  the  poetical  attack, 
are  also  given.  The  first-mentioned  rhyme  may  be  genuine, 
as  it  voices  an  opinionated  brutality  and  boldness  which  was 
not  uncommon  in  dealing  with  the  future  life  eighty  years 
ago.  But  we  can  hardly  imagine  Elias  Hicks  being  a 
"rhymster"  under  any  sort  of  provocation.  \i  the  two 
"poems"  were  ever  printed,  touching  the  matter  in  (juestion, 
some  one  besides  Elias,  undoul)tedly  is  responsible  for  the 
rejoinder. 

Near  the  Lst  of  Sixth  month,  and  a  little  more  than 
three  months  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  Elias  Hicks  started 
on  his  last  religious  visit.  His  concern  took  him  to  the 
meetings  and  neighborhoods  within  the  limits  of  his  own 
Yearly  Meeting.  Nothing  unusual  is  reported  on  this  visit 
until  Dutchess  County  was  reached.  All  of  the  meetings 
were  reported  satisfactory.  Of  the  meetings  at  West 
Branch,  Creek  and  Crum-Elbow\  Elias  says : 

"Although  it  was  in  the  midst  of  harvest,  such  was 
the  excitement  produced  amongst  the  people  by  the  oppo- 
sition made  by  those  of  our  members  who  had  gone  off 
from  us,  and  set  up  separate  meetings,  that  the  people  at 
large^of  other  societies  flocked  to  those  meetings  in  such 
numbers,  that  our  meeting-houses  w^ere  seldom  large 
enough  to  contain  the  assembled  multitude ;  and  we  had 
abundant  cause  for  thanksgiving  and  gratitude  to  the 
blessed  Author  of  all  our  mercies,  in  condescending  to  mani- 
fest his  holy  presence,  and  causing  it  so  to  preside  as  to 
produce    a    general    solemnity,    tendering    and    contriting 


200  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

many  minds,  and  comforting;-  and  rejiMcino-  the  upright  in 
heart."  " 

Proceeding-  u\)  the  Hudson,  arrix'ing-  at  Albany  on 
Se\'enth-da}',  Eighth  month  ist.  that  evening  a  large  meet- 
ing- was  held  in  the  statehouse.  Those  present  represented 
tlie  ii-ihabitants  generally  of  the  capital  city.  Many  meet- 
ings were  attended  after  leaving  All)any,  which  have  now 
ceased  to  exist.  In  fact,  few.  if  any.  meetings  then  in 
existence  were  missed  on  this  journey.  The  17th  of  Eighth 
UKMith  he  was  in  Utica.  Of  the  meeting  in  that  cit\\  and 
at  Bridgewater.  he  says : 

"These  were  not  so  large  as  in  sonic  other  places, 
neither  was  there  as  much  openness  to  receive  our  testi- 
mony as  had  generally  been  the  case  elsewhere.  Our 
opposing  Friends  had  filled  their  heads  with  so  many 
strange  reports,  to  which  they  had  given  credit  without 
examination,  by  which  their  minds  were  so  strongly  preju- 
diced against  me,  that  many  in  the  compass  of  these  two 
last  meetings  were'  not  willing  to  see  me,  nor  hear  any 
reasons  given  to  show  them  their  mistakes,  and  that  the 
reports  they  had  heard  were  altogether  unfounded:  how- 
ever, I  was  favored  to  communicate  the  truth  to  those  who 
attended,  so  that  they  generally  went  away  full}-  satisfied, 
and  T  left  them  with  peace  of  mind."  ■* 

In  [829,  under  date  of  Seventh  month  9th,  in  a  letter 
written  at  Oblong,  in  Westchester  County.  New  York,  he 
expresses  the  feeling  that  the  meeting  at  Jericho  sustains 
important  relations  to  the  branch  of  Friends  with  which  he 
was  connected.  The  letter  was  written  to  his  children, 
Valentine  and  Abigail  Hicks.      In  it  he  says: 

Although  absent  in  body,  yet  my  mind  pretty  often 
takes  a  sudden  and  instantaneous  excursion  to  Jericho, 
clothed  with  a  desire  that  we  who  constitute  that  monthlv 
meeting,  may  keep  our  eye  so  single,  to  the  sure  and  im- 

^  "Journal."  p.  428. 
*  "Journal,"  p.   430, 


LIFE  AND   LABOr-lS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  201 

movable  foundation  of  llu-  li^lit  within,  so  as  to  be  entirely 
preserved  from  all  Ik-slily  rc-asonin^s,  which  if  j^iven  way 
to,  in  the  least  degree,  ever  has,  and  ever  will,  have  a 
tendency  to  divide  in  Jacob  and  scatter  in  Israel.  1  con- 
sider that  much  depends  upon  the  course  we  take  in  our 
monthly  meeting.;-,  as  we  are  much  looked  up  to  as  an 
example  and  if  we  make  but  a  small  miss,  it  may  do  much 
harm." 

Twelfth  month  15,  1829,  Ellas  Hicks  wrote  to  his 
friend  Johnson  Legg-,  evidently  in  reply  to  one  asking  advice 
in  regard  to  his  own  conduct  in  relation  to  the  "separation." 
In  this  letter  Elias  says:  "In  the  present  interrupted  and 
(listm-bed  state  of  our  once  peaceful  and  favoured  Society,  it 
recpiires  great  deliberation  and  humble  waiting  on  the  Lord 
for  counsel  before  we  move  forw^ard  on  the  right  hand  or 
the  left.  Had  this  been  the  case  with  otu"  brethren  of  this 
yearlv  meeting  who  style  themselves  orthodox,  I  very  much 
doubt  if  there  would  have  been  any  separation  among  us. 
For  although  the  chief  cause  thereof  is  placed  to  my  account. 
yet  I  am  confident  I  have  given  no  just  cause  for  it." 

This  statement  undoubtedly  expresses  the  real  feeling 
of  Elias  Hicks  regarding  the  "separation."  He  could  not 
see  why  what  he  repeatedly  called  "mere  opinions"  should 
cause  a  rupture  in  the  Society.  It  will  be  noted  that  he 
still  refers  to  the  other  Friends  as  "our  brethren,"  and 
he,  apparently,  had  no  ill-will  toward  them.  The  letter  from 
which  this  extract  was  taken  was  written  only  about  two 
months  before  his  death,  and  was  undoubtedly  his  last  writ- 
ten word  on  the  unfortunate  controversy,  and  the  trouble 

that  grew  out  of  it. 

26 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 
Friendly   and   Unfriendly    Critics. 

Few"  men  in  their  day  were  more  talked  about  than 
Elias  Hicks.  The  interest  in  his  person  and  in  liis  preach- 
ing contintied  for  3'ears  after  his  death.  While  the  dis- 
cussion ceased  to  be  warm  long  years  ago,  his  name  is  one 
which  men  of  so-called  liberal  thotight  .still  love  to  conjure 
with,  without  very  clearly  knowing  the  reason  why.  Some 
clearer  light  may  l)e  tiirown  upon  his  life,  labor  and 
character  by  a  Ijrief  review  of  opinions  of  those  who  criti- 
cised liim  as  friends,  and  some  of  them  as  partisans,  and 
those  who  were  his  open  enemies,  for  the  theological  at- 
mosphere had  not  yet  appeared  in  which  he  could  be  even 
approximately  imderstood  by  the  men  of  the  old  school. 

We  shall  begin  the  collection  of  criticisms  liy  quoting 
Edward  Hicks, ^  who  wrote  a  comparatively  judicial  esti- 
mate of  his  friend  and  kinsman.  After  stating  that  even 
the  ajjostles  had  their  weak  side,  that  Tertullian  "^vas  led 
into  a  foolish  extreme  by  the  fanatical  notions  of  Mon- 
tanus :'"  and  that  Origen  "did  immense  mischief  to  the 
cause  of  primitive  Christianity  Iw  his  extreme  attachment 


^  Edward  Hicks,  a  relative  of  Elias  Hicks,  was  born  in  Attle- 
boro,  Pa.,  Fourth  month  4.  1780.  His  mother  passed  away  when 
he  was  an  infant,  and  he  was  cared  for  in  his  early  youth  by  Elizabeth 
Twining,  a  friend  of  his  mother.  When  a  young  man,  he  became  a 
member  of  Middletown  Alonthly  Meeting  in  Bucks  County  by  request. 
He  began  speaking  in  meeting  when  about  thirty  years  of  age,  and 
was  a  little  later  recorded  as  a  minister.  Edward  Hicks  for  many 
years  carticd  on  the  business  of  carriage  maker  and  painter  at  Newto-wn, 
Pa.  Although  much  more  orthodox  in  doctrine  than  his  celebrated 
kinsman,  he  was  one  of  the  most  ardent  friends  and  defenders  of 
Elias   Hicks. 

202 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF   ELIAS  HICKS  203 

to  tlie   Platonic  philoso])hy,   scholastic  divinity   and   linman 
learning-,"  he  remarks: 

■■'Jdierefore,  it  is  among  the  possihle  circnmstances 
that  dear  Khas  was  led  to  an  extreme  in  the  Unitarian 
specnlation.  while  oi)])osin^-  the  Trinitarian,  then  increas- 
ing- among-  Friends,  and  now  almost  established  among" 
onr  orthodox  Friends.  LUit  1  have  no  recollection  oi  ever 
hearing-  him  in  pnblic  testimony,  and  I  have  heard  him 
mnch,  when  his  specnlative  views  or  manner  of  speaking, 
destroyed  the  savonr  of  life  that  attended  his  ministry, 
or  gave  me  anA-  nneasiness.  Bnt  1  have  certain  1\'  heard 
to  my  sorrow,  too  many  of  his  superficial  admirers  that 
have  tried  to  copy  after  him,  pretending  to  wear  his  crown, 
without  knowing-  anything  of  his  cross,  make  use  of  the 
naked  term,  Jesus,  both  in  public  and  private,  till  it  sounded 
in  my  ears  as  unpleasant,  as  if  coming-  from  the  tongue  of 
the  profane  swearer;  and  on  the  other  hand,  I  have  been 
pained  to  hear  the  unnecessary  repetition  of  the  terms,  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  from  those  T  verily  be- 
lieved Elias's  bitter  enemies,  especially  the  F^nglish 
preachers,  and  have  scarcely  a  doubt  that  they  were  sub- 
stantially breaking-  the  third  commandment.  And  I  will 
now  add  my  oj)inion  fearlessly,  that  Flias  was  wrc^ng  in 
entering  into  that  quibbling  controversy  with  those  weak 
Quakers,  alluded  to  in  his  letter,  about  the  marvellous  con- 
ception and  parentag-e  of  Christ,  a  delicate  and  inexplicable 
subject,  that  seems  to  have  escaped  the  particular  attention 
of  what  we  call  the  darker  ages,  to  disgrace  the  highest 
professors  of  the  nineteenth  century." - 

An  independent,  and  in  the  main,  a  judicial  critic  of 
Quakers  and  Quakerism  is  F'rederick  Storrs  Turner,  an 
Englishman.  Some  of  his  estimates  and  observations  of 
Elias  Hicks,  are  both  apt  and  discriminating.  Of  his 
preaching  Turner  says: 

"His  great  theme  was  the  light  within;  his  one  aim 
to  promote  a  true  living  spiritual,  practical  Christianity. 
He  was  more  dogmatic  and  controversial  than  Woolman. 
There  seems  to  have  been  in  him  a  revival  of  the  old  ag- 

'  "Memoirs  of  Life  and  Religious  Labors  of  Edward  Hicks,"  p. 
92. 


204  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

gressive  zeal,  and  something  of  the  acerbity  of  the  early 
Quakers.  "Hireling  priests'  were  as  offensive  in  his  eyes 
as  in  those  of  George  Fox.  He  would  have  no  compromise 
with  the  religions  of  the  world,  and  denounced  all  new- 
fangled methods  and  arrangements  for  religions  work  and 
worship  in  the  will  of  man.  He  was  a  Quaker  to  the  back- 
bone, and  st(K)d  out  manfully  fi>r  the  'ancient  simplicity.'"^ 

With  still  deeper  insight  Turner  continues  his  analysis  : 

"This  was  his  dying  testimony:  'The  cross  of  Christ 
is  the  perfect  law  of  God,  written  in  the  heart 
there  is  but  one  Lord,  one  faith,  and  but  one  baptism. 
.  .  .  No  rational  being  can  be  a  real  Christian  and  true 
disciple  of  Christ  until  he  comes  to  know  all  these  things 
verified  in  his  own  experience.'  He  was  a  good  man,  a 
true  Christian,  and  a  Quaker  of  the  Quakers.  His  very 
errors  were  the  errors  of  a  Quaker,  and  since  the  generation 
of  the  personal  disciples  of  George  Fox  it  would  be  difficult 
to  point  out  any  man  who  had  a  simpler  and  firmer  faith  in 
the  central  trutli  of  Quakerism  than  Flias  Hicks."'' 

Regarding  some  of  the  bitter  criticisms  uttered  against 
Elias  Hicks  at  the  time  of  the  contro\'ersy  in  the  second 
decade  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  repeated  by  the  biog- 
raphers and  advocates  of  some  of  his  opponents.  Turner 
says : 

"This  cc^ncensus  of  condenniation  1)}'  such  excellent 
Christian  men  would  blast  Hicks's  character  effectually, 
were  it  not  for  the  remembrance  that  we  have  heard  these 
shrieks  of  pious  horror  before.  Just  so  did  Faldo  and  Bax- 
ter, Owen  and  Bunyan,  unite  in  anathematizing  George  Fox 
and  the  first  Quakers.  Turning  from  these  invectives  of 
theological  opponents  to  Hicks's  own  writings,  we  at  once 
discover  that  this  arch-heretic  was  a  simple,  humble-minded, 
earnest  Quaker  of  the  old  school."  ■' 


'"The    Quakers;"   a    study,    historical    and    critical,   by    Frederick 
Storrs   Turner,   1889,   p.   292. 

*  The   same,  p.   293. 

'  The  same,  p.  291. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  205 

James  Mott.  Sr..  of  Mamaroneck,  X.  V.,  was  among 
the  friendly,  althoniih  judicial  critics  of  Elias  Hicks.  In 
a  letter  written  I'^ii^iith  month  5.  1805,  to  Elias.  he  said: 
"I  am  satisfied  that  the  master  hath  conferred  on  thee  a 
precions  gift  in  the  ministry,  and  I  have  often  sat  with 
pecnliar  satisfaction  in  hearing  thee  exercise  it."  He  then 
continues,    referring    to    a    si)ecial    occasion: 

"But  when  thou  came  to  touch  on  predestination,  and 
some  other  erroneous  doctrines,  I  thought  a  little  zeal  was 
suffered  to  take  place,  that  led  into  much  censoriousness, 
and  that  expressed  in  harsh  expressions,  not  only  against 
the  doctrines,  but  those  who  had  embraced  them.  ...  I 
have  often  thought  if  ministers,  when  treating  on  doctrinal 
points,  or  our  belief,  were  to  hold  up  our  principles  fully 
and  clearly,  and  particularly  our  fundamental  principle 
of  the  light  within,  what  it  was,  and  how  it  operates,  there 
would  very  seldom  be  occasion  for  declamation  against 
other  tenets,  however  opposite  to  our  own  ;  nor  never 
against  those  wdio  have  through  education  or  some  other 
medium  embraced  them." 

This  would  seem  t(^  be  as  good  advice  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  twentieth  century  as  it  was  in  the  first  years 
of  the  nineteenth. 

In  the  matter  of  estimating  Elias  Hicks.  Walt  Whit- 
man indulged  in  the  following  criticism,  supplementing  an 
estimate  of  his  preaching.  Dealing  with  some  opinions  of 
the  contemporaries  of  Elias  Hicks,  he  says: 

"They  think  Elias  Hicks  had  a  large  element  of  per- 
sonal ambition,  the  pride  of  leadership,  of  establishing  per- 
ha])s  a  sect  that  should  reflect  his  own  name,  and  to  which 
he  should  give  special  form  and  character.  Very  likely, 
such  indeed  seems  the  means  all  through  progress  and 
civilization,  by  which  strong  men  and  strong  convictions 
achieve  anything  definite.  But  the  basic  foundation  of 
Elias  was  undoubtedly  genuine  religious  fervor.  ?Te  was 
like  an  old  Hebrew  prophet.  He  had  the  spirit  of  one,  and 
in   his  later  years  looked  like  one."  ° 

•"The  Complete   Works   of   Walt  Whitman,"  Vol.  3,  p.   269-270. 


2o6  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

It  is  not  worth  while  to  deny  that  Ehas  Hicks  was 
ambitious,  and  desired  to  secure  results  in  his  labor.  But 
those  who  carefully  go  over  liis  recorded  words  will  hud 
little  to  warrant  the  literal  conclusion  of  his  critics  in  this 
particular.  He  probably  had  no  idea  at  any  time  of  found-, 
ing-  a  sect,  or  perpetuating-  his  name  attached  to  a  frag-ment 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  either  large  or  small.  He  be- 
lieved that  he  preached  the  truth:  he  wanted  men  to  embrace 
it,  as  it  met  the  di\ine  witness  in  their  own  souls,  and  not 
other\\'ise. 

Among  the  severe  critics  of  Elias  Hicks  is  William 
Tallack,  who  in  his  book  "Thomas  Shillitoe,"  says  that 
"many  of  Elias  Hick's  assertions  are  too  blasphemous  for 
(piotation,"  while  \V.  Hodgson,  refers  to  the  "filth"  of  the 
sentiments  of  Elias  Hicks.  Rut  both  these  Eriends  use 
words  rather  loosely.  .Both  must  employ  their  epithets  en- 
tirely in  a  theological,  and  not  a  moral  sense.  Having  gone 
over  a  large  amount  of  the  published  and  private  utterances 
of  the  Jericho  preacher,  we  have  failed  to  find  in  them  even 
an  impure  suggestion.  The  bitterness  of  their  attacks, 
simply  illustrates  the  bad  spirit  in  which  theological  dis- 
cussion is  generally  conducted. 

The  fame  of  Elias  Hicks  as  a  liberalizing  infkience  in 
religion  seems  to  have  reached  the  Orient.  Under  date, 
"Calcutta,  June  2C),  1827,"  the  celebrated  East  Indian, 
Rammohun  Roy,"  addressed  an  appreciative  letter  to  him. 
It  was  sent  by  a  Philadelphian.  J.  H.  Eoster,  of  the  ship 
Georgian,  and  contained  the  following  expressions: 

"Mv  object  in  intruding  on  your  time  is  to  express  the 

'  Rammohun  Roy  was  born  in  Bengal  in  1772,  being  a  high-class 
}^>rahmin.  He  was  highly  educated,  and  at  one  time  in  the  employ  of 
the  English  Government.  In  comparatively  early  life  he  became  a 
religions  and  social  reformer,  and  incurred  the  enmity  of  his  family. 
He  published  various  works  in  different  languages,  including  English. 
In  1828  he  founded  a  liberal  religious  association  which  grew  into  the 
P.rahnio  Somaj.     Roy  visited   England  in  1831,  and  died  there  in  1833. 


LIFK  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  207 

stratification  i  have  felt  in  readint^  the  sennons  you  preached 
at  different  meetings,  and  which  have  since  been  published 
by  your  friends  in  America.  .  .  .  Every  sentence  found 
there  seems  io  have  proceeded  not  only  from  your  lips,  but 
from  your  heart.  The  true  s])irit  of  Christian  charity  and 
belief  (lows  from  thee  and  cannot  fall  short  of  making  some 
impression  on  every  heart  which  is  suscej^tible  of  it.  I 
hope  and  pray  (lod  may  reward  you  for  your  pious  life  and 
bene\-olent  exertion,  and  remain  w^ith  the  highest  reverence. 
"Your  most  humble. servant, 

"Rammohun  Roy." 

A  copy  of  what  ptu^ports  to  be  a  reply  to  this  letter  is 
in  existence,  and  is  probably  genuine,  as  the  language  is 
in  accordance  with  the  well-known  ideas  of  Elias  Hicks. 
Besides,  an  undated  j^ersonal  letter  contains  a  direct  refer- 
ence to  the  East  Indian  corres]:)ondence.  From  it  we  qttote : 
"I  take  my  pen  to  commune  with  thee  in  this  way  on  divers 
accounts,  and  first  in  regard  to  a  letter  I  have  recently  re- 
cei\'ed  from  Calctttta,  stibscribed  by  Rammohun  Roy,  author 
of  a  book  entitled,  'The  Precepts  of  Jesus,  a  (Itiide  to  Peace 
and  Ha])i)iness."  "  "" 

A  recjtiest  is  made  that  William  Wharton  will  find 
out  if  the  ship-master,  I*"oster.  mentioned  above,  would  con- 
\ey  a  letter  to  Calcutta.  Then  Elias  expresses  himself  as 
follows: 

"1  also  feel  aTively  interest  in  whatever  relates  to  the 
welfare  and  progress  of  that  enlightened  and  worthy  Hin- 
doo, believing  that  if  he  humbly  attends  to  that  hath  begun 
a  good  work  in  him,  and  is  faithful  to  its  manifestations  that 
he  will  not  only  witness  the  blessed  effects  of  it,  in  his 
own  preservation  and  salvation,  but  will  be  made  an  instru- 
ment in  the  divine  hand  of  much  good  to  his  own  people, 
and  nation,  by  spreading  the  truth,  and  opening  the  right 
way  of  salvation  among  them,  which  may  no  doubt  prove 
a  great  and  singular  blessing  not  only  to  the  present,  but 
to  succeeding  generations.     And  also  be  a  means  of  open- 

'  From  letter  written  to  William  Wharton  of   Philadelphia. 


208  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELLAS  HICKS 

iiig  the  l)liiul  eyes  of  formal  traditional  Christians,  who 
make  a  profession  of  godliness,  but  deny  the  power  thereof, 
especially  those  blind  guides,  mere  man-made  ministers, 
and  self-styled  missionaries,  sent  out  by  Bible  and  mission- 
ary societies  of  man's  constituting,  under  the  pretence  of 
converting  those,  who  in  the  pride  of  their  hearts  they  call 
Heathen,  to  Christianity,  while  at  the  same  time,  judging 
them  by  their  fruits  they  themselves,  or  most  of  them, 
stand  in  as  great,  or  greater  need,  of  right  conversion." 

Among-  the  present-day  critics  of  Elias  Hicks,  is  Dr.  J. 
Rendell  Harris,  of  F^.ngland.  In  his  paper  at  the  ■Man- 
chester Conference  in  1895,  this  cpiotation  from  Elias  Hicks 
is  given:  "God  ne\-er  made  any  distinction  in  the  mani- 
festation of  his  love  to  his  rational  creatures.  He  has 
placed  e\ery  son  and  daughter  of  Adam  on  the  same  groimd 
and  in  the  same  condition  that  our  hrst  parents  were  in. 
For  every  child  must  come  clean  out  of  the  hands  of  God."  '' 
Doctor  Harris  says  Elias  Hicks  "was  wrong  not  simply  be- 
catise  he  was  tmscriptural,  but  l^ecause  he  was  unscien- 
tific." ^"  Doctor  Harris  prefaces  this  remark  by  the  follow- 
ing comment  on  the  quotation  from  Elias  Hicks:  "Xow 
suppose  such  a  doctrine  to  be  propounded  in  this  conference 
would  not  the  proper  answer,  the  answer  of  an\-  modern 
thinker,  be  (i)  that  we  never  had  any  first  parents;  (2) 
we  were  demonstrably  not  born  good."  ''  \\>  do  not  at  all 
assume  that  Elias  Hicks  had  no  limitations,  or  that  he  was 
correct  at  all  points  in  his  thinking,  measured  by  the  stand- 
ards of  present-day  knowledge  or  any  other  standard.  But 
we  must  claim  that  in  holding  that  we  had  first  parents,  he 


°  "Report  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Conference  of  Members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  held  by  Direction  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  Man- 
chester," 1895,  p.  220. 

'°  The  same,  p.  220. 

"  We  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  had  Elias  Hicks  made  this  state- 
ment he  would  have  suffered  more  at  the  hands  of  the  Philadelphia 
Elders  in  1822  than  is  recorded  in  this  book. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  209 

was  scriptural,  'flic  ymny  man,  hr)\\-c\cr.  seems  to  have 
been.  nnconscii'Uslw  of  course,  between  two  stools.  The 
orthodox  I'^riends  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century 
claimed  that  hLlias  was  unsound  because  he  did  not  clini;" 
to  the  letter  of  the  scripture,  and  his  critic  just  (juoted  claims 
that  he  was  unscientific  althou^li  he  used  a  scriptural  term. 
Doctor  Harris  then  concludes  that  "a  little  knowledge  of 
e\olution  would  ha\e  sa\ed  him  (Micks)  all  that  false  doc- 
trine." r>ut  how.  in  his  time,  cotild  he  have  had  any  knowl- 
edge of  ex'olution.'  .\  man  can  hardly  be  criticised  for  not 
])ossessing  knowledge  absolutely  imaxailable  in  his  day  and 
generation.  We  are  then  informed  "that  the  w^orld  at  any 
given  instant,  shows  almost  every  stage  of  evolution  of  life, 
from  the  amrtba  to  the  man.  and  from  the  cannibal  to  the 
saint.  Shall  we  say  that  the  love  of  God  is  equally  mani- 
fested in  all  these?"  ''  To  use  the  Yankee  answer  by  ask- 
ing another  question,  may  we  inquire,  in  all  seriousness,  who 
is  qualified  to  say  with  certainty  that  it  is  not  so  manifested? 
Who  has  the  authoritx'.  in  the  language  of  Whittier,  to 

.    .    .    "fix  with  metes  and  bounds 
The  lo've  and  power  of  God?" 

Fdias  Hicks  was  gixen  to  using  figures  of  speech  and 
scriiitiu'al  ilhistrations  in  a  broad  sense,  and  those  who  care- 
full\'  read  his  titterances  will  have  nt^  trouble  in  seeing  in 
the  (|uotation  used  by  Doctor  Harris  sim])ly  an  attempt  to 
repu<liate  the  attribute  of  favoritism  on  the  ])art  of  the 
Heavenly  Father  toward  any  of  his  human  children,  and 
not  to  formulate  a  new  philosophv  of  life,  based  on  a  theorv 
of  the  universe  about  which  he  had  ne\'er  heard. 

ddie  special  Labor  (^f  Elias  Hicks,  as  we  may  now  dis- 
passionately re\iew  it,  was  not  as  an  expounder  of  doctrine, 


'"Report   Mancliester  Conference,  pp.  220-221. 


210  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

or  the  creator  of  a  new  (logmatism.  but  as  a  rationalizing, 
liberalizing  intlnence  in  the  field  of  religion.  He  was  a 
pioneer  of  the  "modern  thinkers"  of  whom  Doctor  Harris 
speaks,  and  did  much,  amid  misunderstanding  and  the 
traducing  of  men,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  broader 
intellectual  and  spiritual  liberty  we  now  enjoy. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Recollections,   Reminiscences   and   Testimonies. 

Many  statements  which  have  come  down  to  us  from 
the  generation  in  which  Ehas  Hicks  hved.  warrant  the  con- 
clusion that  he  was  a  natural  orator.  He  possessed  in  a 
large  degree  what  the  late  Bishop  Simpson,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  called  "heart  power."  We  are  able  to 
give  the  personal  impression  of  a  venerable  Friend  ^  now 
living,  who  as  a  boy  of  eleven  heard  Elias  preach  twice. 

One  of  the  sermons  was  delivered  at  Center,  Del,  on 
the  8th  of  Twelfth  month,  1828,  and  the  other  the  day  be- 
fore at  West  Chester.  This  was  on  his  last  long  religious 
\'isit,  which  took  him  to  the  then  "far  west,"  Ohio  and 
Indiana. 

Doctor  Green  says  that  the  manner  of  Elias  Hicks  when 
speaking  was  very  impressive.  In  person  he  is  described 
bv  this  Friend  "as  above  medium  height,  rather  slim,  and 
with  a  carriage  that  would  attract  universal  attention."  He 
wore  very  plain  clothes  of  a  drab  color. 

With  no  education  in  logic,  and  no  disposition  to  in- 
dulge in  forensic  debate,  he  was,  nevertheless  a  logician, 
and  liad  he  indulged  in  pubhc  disputation,  would  liave  made 
it  interesting  if  not  uncomfortable  for  his  adversary. 

If  he  occasionally  became  involved,  or  got  into  verbal 
deep  water,  he  always  extricated  himself,  and  made  his 
position  clear  to  his  hearers.  Doctor  Green  tells  us  that 
he  had  an  uncle,  not  a  member  of  meeting,  but  a  good  judge 


^  Dr.  Jesse  C.  Green,  of  West  Chester,  Pa.,  now  in  his  93d  year. 
Doctor  Green  ahnost  retains  the  sprightliness  of  youth. 


212  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

of  public  speaking-,  who  considered  Elias  Hicks  the  most 
loi^ical  i)reacher  in  ilie  Society  of  h'riends.  On  one  oc- 
casion lie  heard  Elias  when  he  became  very  mncli  involved 
in  his  speakinji,  and  as  this  person  put  it.  he  thonglit  Elias 
had  "wound  himself  up."  but  in  a  few  minutes  he  came 
down  from  his  verbid  tlij^ht.  and  made  e\"ery  jxnnt  so  clear 
that  he  was  understood  by  every  listener. 

Henr}-  Byran  Binns.  Whitman's  Eui^lish  biographer, 
gives  the  following  estimate  of  the  preaching  of  Elias 
Hicks : 

"With  grave  emphasis  he  pronounced  his  text :  'What 
is  the  chief  end  of  man?'  and  with  fiery  and  eloquent  eyes, 
in  a  strong,  vibrating,  and  still  musical  voice,  he  commenced 
to  deliver  his  soid-awakening  message.  The  tire  of  his 
fervor  kindled  as  he  spoke  of  the  purpose  of  human  life; 
his  broad-brim  was  dashed  from  his  forehead  on  to  one  of 
the  seats  behind  hiin.  With  the  power  of  intense  con- 
viction his  whole  presence  became  an  overwhelming  per- 
suasion, melting  those  who  sat  before  him  into  tears  and 
into  one  heart  of  wonder  and  humility  under  his  high  and 
simple  words."  " 

We  have  antjther  living  witness  who  remembers  Elias 
Hicks.  This  Eriend  says  that  she.  with  the  members  of 
her  family,  were  constant  attenders  of  the  Jericho  meeting. 
Speaking  of  Elias  she  remarks:  "His  commanding  figure 
in  the  gallery  is  a  bright  ])icture  I  often  see  in  my  mind. 
His  person  was  tall,  straight  and  firm;  his  manner  dignified 
and  noble  and  agreeable ;  his  ^"oice  clear,  distinct  and  pene- 
trating— altogether  grand."  ' 

We  (juote  the  following  interesting  incidents  from  the 
letter  of  Mary  W' illis  : 

"One  rither  bit   T   recall   was   a   talk,   or   sermon,  to   the 

""A  Life  of  Walt  Whitman."  Henry  Byran  Binns.  p.   i6. 

'  Extract  of  letter  from  Mary  Willis,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  dated 
Ninth  month  7,  1910.  This  Friend  is  92  years  old.  The  letter  received 
was  entirely  written  by  her.  and  is  a  model  of  legible  penmanship  and 
clear  statement. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS   HICKS  213 

young  especially.  He  related  that  once  he  threw  a  stone 
and  killed  a  bird,  and  was  struck  with  consternation  and 
regret  at  killing  an  innocent  bird  that  might  be  a  parent, 
and  its  voung  perish  for  the  need  of  care.  He  appealed 
feelingly  to  the  boys  to  refrain  from  giving  needless  pain. 

"He  was  guardian  to  my  mother,  sisters  and  brother, 
and  they  and  their  mother  returned  his  loving  care  with 
warm  affection,  always,  as  did  my  father. 

"One  of  his  characteristics  was  his  kindness  to  the 
poor.  Not  far  from  his  home  (three  miles,  perhaps)  was  a 
small  colony  of  colored  people  on  poor  land,  who  shared  his 
bounty  in  cold,  wintry  weather,  in  his  wagon  loads  of 
vegetables  and  wood,  delivered  by  his  own  hand." 

Probablv  (jne  of  the  most  appreciative,  and  in  the  main 
discriminative  estimates  of  Elias  Hicks,  was  made  by  Walt 
Whitman.  Tlie  "notes  (such  as  they  are)  founded  on  Elias 
Hicks,"  for  sucli  the  author  called  them,  were  written  in 
Camden.  X.  J.,  in  the  summer  of  1888.  Elias  Hicks  had 
been  dead  nearly  half  a  century.  Whitman's  impressions  of 
the  famous  preacher  were  based  on  the  memory  of  a 
br»v  ten  vears  old,  for  that  was  Whitman's  age  when  he 
heard  Elias  Hicks  preach  in  Brooklyn.  But  personal  mem- 
ory was  supplemented  by  the  statements  of  his  parents, 
especially  his  mother,  as  the  preaching  of  their  (jld  Long 
Island  neighbor  was  undoubtedly  a  subject  of  frequent  con- 
versation in  the  Whitman  home. 

As  to  the  manner  of  the  preacher  Whitman  says: 
"While  he  goes  on  he  falls  into  the  nasality  and  sing-song 
tone  sometimes  heard  in  such  meetings ;  but  in  a  moment 
or  two.  more  as  if  recollecting  himself,  he  breaks  off,  stops, 
and  resumes  in  a  natural  tone.  This  occurs  three  or  four 
times  during  the  talk  of  the  evening,  till  he  concludes."  * 

The  "unnamable  something  behind  oratory,"  Whitman 
says  Elias  Hicks  had,  and  it  "emanated  from  his  very  heart 
to  the  heart  of  his  audience,  or  carried  with  him,  or  probed 

*'The   Complete  Works   of   Walt  Whitman,"  Vol.   3,  p.   259. 


214  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS 

iiito.  and  shook  or  aroused  in  them  a  sympathetic  germ."  * 

There  are  a  good  many  anecdotes  regarding"  Ehas  Hicks 
current  in  Jericho,  going  to  show  some  of  his  character- 
istics. It  is  stated  that  at  one  time  he  found  that  corn  was 
being  taken,  evidently  through  the  slats  of  the  crib.  One 
night  he  set  a  trap  in  the  suspected  place.  Going  to  the 
l)arn  in  the  morning  he  saw  a  man  standing  near  where  the 
trap  was  set.  Eli  as  passed  on  without  seeming  to  notice  the 
visitor.  On  returning  to  the  house  he  stopped,  spoke  to  the 
man,  and  released  him  from  the  trap.  Elias  would  never 
tell  ^vho  the  man  was. 

Illustrating  his  feeling  regarding  slavery,  and  his  testi- 
monv  against  slave  labor,  the  following  statement  is  made : 
Before  his  death,  and  following  the  fatal  paralytic  stroke, 
he  noticed  that  the  quilt  with  which  he  was  covered  con- 
tained cotton.  He  had  lost  the  power  of  speech,  but  he 
pushed  the  covering  off,  thus  indicating  his  displeasure  at 
the  presence  of  an  article  of  comfort  which  was  the  product 
of  slave  labor. 

There  is  an  anecdote  which  illustrates  the  spirit  of  the 
man  in  a  striking  way.  He  is  said  to  have  had  a  neighbor 
with  whom  it  did  not  seem  possible  to  maintain  cordial 
relations.  One  day  Elias  saw  this  neighbor  with  a  big 
load  of  hay  stalled  in  a  marsh  in  one  of  his  fields.  Without 
a  word  of  recognition  Elias  approached  the  man  in  the 
slough  and  hitching  his  own  ox  team  to  the  load  i'n  front 
of  the  other  team  proceeded  to  pull  the  load  out  of  the 
slough.  It  was  all  done  in  characteristic  Quaker  silence. 
The  result  was  the  establishment  of  cordial  relations  be- 
tween the  two  neighbors. 

In  bestowing  his  benefactions,  he  was  exceedingly  sen- 
siti\-e,  not  wishing  to  be  known  in  the  matter,  and  especially 
not  desiring  to  receive  ordinary  expressions  of  gratitude. 

°  The   same,   p.   264. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  215 

His  habitual  custom  was  to  take  his  load  of  wood  or  pro- 
visions, as  the  case  might  be,  leave  them  at  the  door  or  in 
the  yard  of  the  family  in  need,  and  without  announcement 
or  comment  silently  steal  away. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War,  Elias  Hicks,  in  com- 
mon with  other  Friends,  had  property  seized  in  lieu  of  mili- 
tary service  or  taxes.  The  value  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
great  in  any  of  the  cases  which  were  reported  to  the  monthly 
meeting.     We  copy  the  following  cases  from  the  records : 

"On  the  28th  of  Eighth  month,  1777,  came  Justice  Ma- 
loon,  Robert  Wilson,  Daniel  Wilson,  and  Daniel  Weeks, 
sergeant  under  the  above  Captain  (Youngs)  and  took  from 
me  a  pair  of  silver  buckles,  worth  18  shillings ;  two  pair  of 
stockings  worth  15  shillings;  and  two  handkerchiefs  worth 
5  shillings,  for  my  not  going  at  the  time  of  an  alarm. — Elias 
Hicks,  Jericho,  24th  of  Ninth  month,  1777."^ 

The  "silver  buckles"  were  either  for  the  shoes  or  the 
knees.  They  were  evidently  more  ornamental  than  useful, 
and  how  they  comported  with  the  owner's  rather  severe 
ideas  of  plainness  is  not  for  us  to  explain.  The  j)rice  put 
on  these  stockings  may  surprise  some  twentieth  century 
reader,  but  it  should  be  remembered  that  they  were  long  to 
reach  to  the  knees,  and  went  with  short  breeches  called  in 
the  vernacular  of  the  time,  "small  clothes." 

"The  3d  of  Twelfth  month,  1777,  there  came  to  my 
house  George  Weeks,  sergeant  under  said  Captain  (Thorne) 
with  a  warrant,  and  demanded  twelve  shillings  of  me  toward 
paying  some  men  held  to  repair  the  forts  near  the 
west  end  of  the  island,  and  upon  my  refusing  to  pay,  took 
from  me  a  great  coat,  worth  one  pound  and  six  shillings. — 
Elias  Hicks."  ^ 

We  continue  the  "sufferings,"  only  remarking  that  the 


"Westbury  Monthly  Meeting:     "A  Record  of  Marriages,  Deaths, 
Sufferings,  etc.,"  p.  231. 

'  The  same,  p.  234. 


2i6  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL'KS  HICKS 

"i^reat  coat"  was  an  overcoat,  the  price  at  the  equivalent  of 
about  six  dollars  and  a  half  was  not  overdrawn. 

"The  Sixth  month,  1778,  taken  from  Elias  Hicks  by 
order  of  Captain  Daniel  Youngs,  for  refusing  to  pay  toward 
hiring-  of  men  to  work  on  fortifications  near  Brooklyn 
Ferry,  a  pair  of  stockings  worth  5  shillings;  razor  case  and 
two  razors,  worth  4  shillings."  ^ 

The  next  record  of  "suffering"  is  more  than  ordinarily 
interesting  in  that  it  shows  that  the  seizures  of  property 
were  very  arbitrary,  and  it  also  gives  the  price  of  wlieat  on 
Long  Tsland  at  that  time.     W'e  quote: 

"Abcnit  the  middle  of  Tenth  month.  1779,  came  Cieorge 
Wrecks,  by  order  of  Captain  Daniel  \'oungs,  and  1  being 
from  home  demanded  from  my  wife  three  pounds,  tor  not 
assisting  to  build  a  fort  at  Brooklyn  Ferry,  for  which  he 
took  two  bao's  with  three  bushels  of  wheat,  worth  one 
pound,  ten  shillings."  ® 

.-\t  this  rate  the  market  price  of  wheat  was  $2.50  per 
bushel.  Possibly  this  was  during  the  period  of  scarcity, 
referred  to  in  the  introduction. 

In  1794  Elias  Hicks  was  influential  in  establishing  in 
Jericho  an  organization,  the  scope  of  which  was  described  in 
its  preanible  as  follows :  "We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby 
associate  and  unite  into  a  Society  of  Charity  for  the  relief 
of  poor  among  the  black  people,  more  especially  for  the 
education  of  their  children."  ^" 

This  society  was  almost  revolutionary  at  the  time  of 
its  inception,  showing  how  far-seeing  its  projectors  were. 
Its  constitution  declared  that  the  society  was  rendered  nec- 

*  The  same,  p.  242. 

°  The  same,  p.  254. 

'"  This  organization  has  been  in  continuons  existence  since  its 
inception.  Meets  regularly  every  year,  and  distributes  the  proceeds  of 
an  invested  fund  in  accordance  with  its  original  purpose. 


LIFE  AND    LABORS  UV   ELL\S   HICKS  217 

ossarv  l)ecanse  of  the  injustice  aiid  lack  of  opportunity 
wliicli  the  colored  people  suffered.  The  hnpc  was  expressed 
that  the  time  would  come  when  (lie  hlaek  |)eople  would 
cease  to  he  a  suhnier^ed  and  oj-jprosed  race,  tl  was  pri  1- 
X'ided  that  in  case  the  oris^inal  need  for  tlic  societ}-  should 
disappear,  its  henelits  niii^iit  he  dislrihuted  in  an}-  helpful 
way.  It  may  he  interestino-  to  note  that  at  the  nieetini.i-s  of 
tlie  society  the  scarcity  of  colored  children  attending-  the 
school  was  mentioned  with  regret.  S(  >  far  as  we  know,  tlie 
Jericho  society  was  tlie  hrst  organized  l'"riendl\-  effort  in 
negi-o  education.  Klias  Hicks  contrihuled  $50  to  the  in- 
\'esle(]   funds  of  the  org-;niization. 

28 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
Putting  Off  the  Harness. 

DrRixr,  the  series  of  \isits.  reported  in  the  twenty- 
second  cha])ter,  Elias  was  ill  a  nnmlier  of  times,  and  was 
lorced  to  rest  from  his  labors.  On  the  retnrn  trip  from 
central  and  western  Xew  York,  he  visited  for  the  last 
time  the  Hudson  Valley  meetings  which  he  attended  on 
his  first  religions  journey  in   177Q. 

He  arrixed  in  Xew  ^'ork  the  Sth  of  Ele\-enth  month. 
attending  the  mid-week  meeting  at  Hester  Street  that  dav. 
On  First-day.  the  15th,  he  attended  the  Rose  Street  meet- 
ing in  the  morning  and  Hester  Street  in  the  afternoon. 
Second-day  evening,  the  i6th,  a  largely  attended  appointed 
meeting  was  held  in  Brooklyn.  He  then  proceeded  toward 
Jericho,  arriving  home  on  Fourth-day,  the  i8th  of' Eleventh 
month.   1829. 

The  "Journal"  is  singularly  silent  regarding  this 
Brooklyn  meeting".  Henry  Byran  Binns,  on  what  he  con- 
siders good  authority,  says.  "Elias  Hicks  preached  in  the 
l)all-room  of  ^Morrison's  Hotel  on  Broi:)klyn  Heights."'  To 
this  statement  he  lias  added  this  hit  of  realistic  description  : 

"The  scene  was  one  he  (Whitman)  never  forgot.  The 
finely  fitted  and  fashionable  place  of  dancing,  the  officers 
and  gay  ladies  in  that  mixed  and  crowded  assembly,  the 
lights,  the  colors  and  all  the  associations,  both  of  the  faces 
and  of  the  place,  presenting  so  singular  contrast  with  the 
plain  ancient  Friends  seated  upon  the  platform,  their  broad- 
brims on  their  heads,  their  eyes  closed ;  with  silence, 
long  continued  and  becoming  oppressive :  and  most  of 
all,  with  the  tall,  prophetic  figure  that  rose  at  leno^th  to 
break  it."'  ' 

'"A  Life  of  Walt  Whitman,"  p.   16. 

218 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  219 

Whitman's  own  referciice  to  tliis  meeting-  is  still  more 
striking-.  He  says  that  he.  a  hoy  of  ten.  was  allowed  to 
g-o  to  the  Hicks  meeting  because  he  "had  heen  behaving  well 
that  dav."  The  "])rincipal  dignitaries  of  the  town"  at- 
tended this  meeting,  while  uniformed  officers  troni  the 
United  States  Navy  Yard  graced  the  gathering  with  their 
presence.  The  text  was,  "\Miat  is  the  chief  end  of  man?" 
Whitman  says :  "I  cannot  follow  the  discourse,  it  presently 
l)ecomes  very  fervid  and  in  the  midst  of  its  fervor,  he  takes 
the  broad-brim  hat  from  his  head  and  almost  dashing  it 
down  with  \iolence  on  the  seat  behind,  continues  witii  un- 
interrupted earnestness.  Though  the  differences  and  dis- 
putes of  the  formal  division  of  the  Society  of  P^riends  were 
even  then  under  way.  he  did  not  allude  to  them  at  rdl.  A 
pleading-,  tender,  nearly  agonizing-  conviction  and  mag- 
netic stream  of  natural  eloquence,  before  which  all  minds 
and  natures,  all  emotions,  high  or  low.  gentle  or  simple, 
vielded  entirely  without  exception,  was  its  cause,  method 
and  eft'ect.      Many,  very  many,  were  in  tears."  ' 

With  the  account  of  this  journey  of  1829  his  narrative 
in  the  "Journal"  closed.  Idiis  ])aragraph  formed  a  htting 
benediction  : 

"The  foregoing-  meetings  were  times  of  favor,  and  as  a 
seal  from  the  hand  of  our  gracious  and  never-failing  helper, 
to  the  labor  and  travail  wdiich  he  has  led  me  into,  and 
enabled  me  to  perform,  for  the  promotion  of  this  great  and 
noble  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  earth,  as  set 
forth  in  the  foregoing  account,  and  not  suffering  any 
weapon  formed  against  me  to  prosper.  'This  is  the  heri- 
tage of  the  servants  of  the  Lord,  and  their  righteousness 
is  of  me,  saith  the  Lord.'  For  all  these  unmerited  favors 
and  mercies,  in  deep  humiliation  my  soul  doth  magnify  the 
Lord,  and  return  thanksgiving  and'  glory  to  his  great  and 
excellent  name;  for  his  mercy  endureth  forever."'' 

'  "Tlif  Complete  Writings  of  Walt  Whitman."  Issned  under  the 
editorial   supervision   of   his    Literary   Executors,    1902.   Vol.    3,   p.   258. 

'  "Journal,"  p.  438. 


220  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  LLIAS  HICKS 

It  should  be  remembered  that  Elias  IJicks  was  then 
past  his  eig-hty-first  year.  He  started  on  tliis  last  Inng 
religious  \isit.  Sixth  month  24th,  and  was  tlierefore  absent 
from  home  one  week  less  than  ti\e  months,  lie  sa\'s  him- 
self, in  the  last  sentence  of  the  "Jonrnar':  "We  traveled 
in  tliis  journey  nearly  fifteen  hundred  miles."  Tliese  are 
words  as  impressive  as  they  are  simple. 

During  this  trip  many  families  were  visited  from  the 
Valley  of  the  Genesee  to  the  City  of  New-  York,  where 
he  tarried  se^•eral  days  that  he  might  see  his  friends  in 
their  homes.  Whatever  may  have  been  their  mind  in  the 
case,  he  doubtless  felt  that  the\'  would  lo(_ik  upon  his  face 
no  more. 

But  Elias  Hicks  was  not  }et  free  from  his  religious 
concerns,  for  on  First  month  21.  1830.  he  asked  for  a 
minute,  which  was  granted  b\-  Jericho  Monthly  Meeting, 
and  is  as  follows : 

"Our  beloved  Friend,  Elias  Hicks,  presented  a  con- 
cern to  make  a  religious  visit  to  the  families  of  Friends 
and  some  Friendly  people  (as  way  may  open),  within  the 
compass  of  this  and  \\'estbury  Montldy  Meeting,  which 
claimed  the  solid  attention  of  this  meeting,  was  united 
w'ith,  and  he  left  at  liberty  to  pursue  his  [jrospect  accord- 
ingly." 

This  is  the  last  minute  ever  asked  for  Iw  Elias  Hicks. 
But  evidently  the  visits  contemplated  were  ne\er  under- 
taken, for  about  that  time  he  had  a  slight  attack  of  paraly- 
sis, which  alTected  his  right  side  and  arm.  Still  tlie  next 
day  he  attended  a  meeting  at  Bethpage.  and  a  little  later 
quarterly  and  monthly  meetings  in  New  York.  In  both  he 
performed  ministerial  service  with  his  usual  pow-er  and 
clearness.  From  a  little  brochure  ])rinted  in  i82<;,  we 
quote : 

"Tn  the  Monthly  Meeting,  he  tr)ok  a  review  of  his  labors 
in    the   city   for   many   years;   and   then    expressed   a   belief 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELIAS   HICKS  221 

that  liis  religious  services  were  brought  nearly  to  a  close. 
"After  adverting  to  the  great  deviations  that  had  taken 
place  in  the  Society,  from  that  plainness  and  simplicity 
into  which  our  principles  would  lead  us,  he  added,  'but  if 
I  should  live  two  or  three  years  longer,  what  a  comfort  it 
would  be  to  me  to  see  a  reformation  in  these  respects.' 
He  then  spoke  in  commemoralion  of  the  goodness  of  his 
Heavenly  Father,  and  closed  with  these  mem()ral)le  words: 
'As  certainly  as  we  are  engaged  to  glorify  him  in  all  our 
works,  he  will  as  certainly  glorify  us.'  "  * 

P>ut  tlie  time  of  ])utting  off  the  harness  was  near  at 
hand.  On  tlic  14th  of  Second  month,  iSj^o,  he  suffered 
a  sexere  attack  of  paraKsis  wJiich  in\i)!\c(l  the  entire  riglit 
side,  and  deprixed  liini  of  tlie  use  of  his  xoice.  When 
attacked  he  was  alone  in  his  roon.i,  but  succeeded  in  getting 
tn  his  faniilv  in  an  adjoining  apartment.  lie  declined  all 
medical  aid.  In  a  condition  of  helplessness  he  lingered 
until  Se\enili-(lay  the  Jjtli.  when  he  quietly  passed  away. 
Although  he  could  onl}-  communicate  by  signs,  conscious- 
ness remained  until  near  the  end. 

The  funeral  was  held  in  the  meeting  house  at  Jericho, 
on  h"ourtli-da\-,  Tliird  month  J,(\.  Without  a  storm  i"aged 
in  strange  contrast  to  the  ])eacc  and  (|uiet  within.  A  large 
compan\-  braxed  the  elements,  to  pa}'  their  respects  to  his 
Worth,  as  a  man  and  a  minister,  while  a  number  of  \isiting" 
ministering  i^^-iends  had  sym])athetic  serxice  at  the  funeral, 
after  which  the  burial  todk  ])]ace  in  the  ground  adjoining 
'the  meeting-house,  where  he  had  long  worshi])i)ed  and 
ministered. 

The  last  act  performed  In-  l^lias  Hicks  l)efoie  the 
fatal  stroke  came,  was  to  write  a  letter  to  his  friend  Hugh 
ludge.''    of    Barnesx-ille,    Ohio.      Between    the    two    men    a 


*"Life.  Ministry,  Last  Sickness  and  Death  of  Elias  Hicks,"  Phila- 
delphia, J.  Richards,  printer,   130  North  Third  Street. 

'  Hngh  Judge  was  born  abo^it  1750  of  Catholic  parents.  Joined 
Friends  in  his  young  manhood  in  Philadelphia.  Removed  to  Ohio  in 
1815.     Died    Twelfth    month   21,    1834.     He    died    while    on   a    religious 


222  LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS   HICKS 

singular  sympathy  liad  long  existed,  and  to  Hugh,  Fdia^ 
unburdened  his  S])irit  in  this  last  word  to  the  world.  In 
fact  the  letter  fell  from  the  hand  of  the  writer,  after  the 
shock.  It  was  all  complete  with  signature  and  postscri])t. 
This  letter  really  summarizes  the  d(~)ctrine.  and  states 
the  practical  religion  which  inspired  the  ministry  and 
determined  the  life  and  conduct  of  this  wortli}-  h'riend.  It 
may  be  well,  with  its  suggestive  |X)stscri])t,  to  cl(5se  this 
record  of  the  life  and  labors  of  Elias  Hicks: 

"Jericho,   Second   month    14th,    1830. 

'"Dear  Hugh:  Thy  very  acceptable  letter  of  the  21st 
ultimo  was  duly  received,  and  read  with  interest,  tending 
to  excite  renewed  sympathetic  and  mutual  fellow-feeling ; 
and  brought  to  my  remembrance  the  cheernig  salutation 
of  the  blessed  Jesus,  our  holy  and  perfect  pattern  and  ex- 
ample, to  his  disciples,  viz:  'Be  of  good  cheer,  I  have 
overcome  the  world.'  By  which  he  assured  his  disciples, 
that,  by  walking  in  the  same  pathway  of  self-denial  and 
the  cross,  which  he  trod  to  blessedness,  they  might  als(o 
overcome  the  world;  as  nothing"  has  ever  enabled  any 
rational  being,  in  any  age  of  the  world,  to  overcome  the 
spirit  of  the  world,  which  lieth  in  wickedness,  but  the 
cross  of  Christ. 

"Some  mav  query,  what  is  the  cross  of  Christ?  To 
these  T  answer,  it  is  the  perfect  law  of  Cod.  written  on 
the  tablet  of  the  heart,  and  in  the  heart  of  every  rational 
creature,  in  such  indelible  characters  that  all  the  power  of 
mortals  cannot  erase  nor  obliterate.  Neither  is  there  any 
power  or  means  given  or  dispensed  to  the  children  of  men. 
but  this  inward  law  and  light,  by  which  the  true  and  saving 
knowledge  of  God  can  be  obtained.  And  by  this  inward 
law  and  light,  all  will  be  either  justified  or  condemned,  and 
all  be  made  to  know  Cod  for  themselves,  and  be  left  without 
excuse;  agreeably  to  the  prophecy  of  Jeremiah,  and  the 
corroborating  testimony  of  Jesus  in  his  last  counsel  and 
command  to  his  disciples,  not  to  depart  from  Jerusalem 
imtil  the}'  should  receive  power  from  on  high :  assuring 
them   that   thev   should   receive   power   when   they   had   re- 


visit to  Friends  in  PhiLidelphia  Yearly  Meeting.     Was  buried  at  Kennett 
Square.     He  was  a  recorded  minister   for  many  years. 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  (3F   ELI  AS    HICKS  223 

ceived  the  ponrini:;  forth  of  the  spirit  upon  tlicni,  which 
would  (juahfy  them  io  hear  witness  to  him  in  Judea, 
Jerusalem,  Samaria,  and  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  ; 
wdiich  was  verified  in  a  marvellous  manner  on  the  day  of 
I'entecost,  when  thousands  were  converted  to  the  Christian 
faith  in  one  day.  By  which  it  is  evident  that  nothing  but 
this  inward  light  and  law,  as  it  is  heeded  and  obeyed,  ever 
did.  or  ever  can  make  a  true  and  real  Christian  and  child  of 
Cod.  And  until  the  professors  of  Christianity  agree  to  lay 
aside  all  their  non-essentials  in  religion,  and  rally  to  this 
unchangeable  foundation  and  standard  oi  truth,  wars  and 
fightings,  confusion  and  error  will  prevail,  and  the  angelic 
song  cannot  be  heard  in  our  land,  that  of  'glory  to  God  in 
the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace  and  good  will  to  men.'  liut 
when  all  nations  are  made  willing  to  make  this  inward  law 
and  light  the  rule  and  standard  of  all  their  faith  and  works, 
then  we  shall  be  brought  to  know  and  believe  alike,  that 
there  is  but  one  Lord,  one  faith,  and  but  one  baptism  ;  one 
God  and  Father,  that  is  above  all,  through  all,  and  in  all ; 
and  then  will  all  those  glorious  and  consoling  prophecies, 
recorded  in  the  scriptures  of  truth,  be  fulfilled.  Isaiah  2:4. 
'He,'  the  Lord,  'shall  judge  among  the  nations,  and  rebuke 
many  people ;  and  they  shall  beat  their  swords  into  plough- 
shares, and  their  spears  into  pruning-hooks ;  nation  shall 
not  lift  up  sword  against  nation  ;  neither  shall  they  learn 
war  any  more.'  Isaiah  11.  "The  wolf  also  shall  dwell  with 
the  lamb,  and  the  leopard  shall  lie  down  with  the  kid  ;  and 
the  calf,  and  the  young  lion,  and  the  fatling  together;  and 
a  little  child  shall  lead  them.  And  the  cow  and  the  bear 
shall  feed;  their  young  ones  shall  lie  down  together;  and 
the  lion  shall  eat  straw  like  the  ox.  And  the  sucking  child 
shall  play  on  the  hole  of  the  asp,  and  the  weaned  child  put 
his  hand  on  the  cockatrice's  den.  They  shall  not  hurt  nor 
destroy  in  all  my  holy  mountain ;  for  the  earth,'  that  is 
our  earthly  tabernacles,  "shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.' 

"These  scripture  testimonies  give  a  true  and  correct 
description  of  the  gospel  state,  and  no  rational  being  can  be 
a  real  Christian  and  true  disciple  of  Christ  until  he  comes 
to  know  all  these  things  verified  in  his  own  experience,  as 
e\ery  man  and  woman  has  more  or  less  of  all  those  different 
animal  propensities  and  passions  in  their  nature;  and  they 
predominate  and  bear  rule,  and  are  the  source  and  foimtain 
from  whence  all  wars,  and  every  evil  work,  proceed,  and 
will  contimte  as  long  as  man   remains   in   his  first  nature. 


224  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF  ELL-XS  HICKS 

and  is  governed  by  his  animal  spirit  and  propensities,  which 
constitute  the  natural  man,  which  Paul  tells  us,  'receiveth 
not  the  things  of  the  spirit  of  God,  for  they  are  foolish- 
ness unto  him,  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they  are 
spiritually  discerned.'  This  corroborates  the  declaration 
of  Jesus  to  Nicodenius,  that  'except  a  man  be  born  again  he 
cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God ;'  for  "that  which  is  born 
of  the  flesh  is  flesh,  and  that  which  is  born  of  the  spirit  is 
spirit." 

'"Here  Jesus  assures  us,  beyond  all  doubt,  that  nothing 
but  spirit  can  either  see  or  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God ; 
and  this  confirms  Paul's  doctrine,  that  'as  many  as  are  led 
bv  the  spirit  of  God  are  the  sons  of  God,  and  joint  heirs 
with  Christ.'  And  Jesus  assures  us,  by  his  declaration  to 
his  diciples,  John  14:  16-17;  'if  ye  love  me  keep  my  com- 
mandments ;  and  I  will  pray  the  Father  and  he  shall  give 
V(Ui  another  comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with  you  forever, 
e\en  the  spirit  of  truth,  whom  the  world  cannot  receive;' 
that  is,  men  and  women  in  their  natural  state,  who  have 
not  given  up  to  be  led  by  this  spirit  of  truth,  that  leads  and 
guides  into  all  truth  ;  'because  they  see  him  not.  neither  do 
thev  know  him,  but  ye  know  him,  for  he  dwelleth  with 
vou,  and  shall  be  in  you.'  And  as  these  give  up  to  be 
whollv  led  and  guided  by  him,  the  new  birth  is  brought 
forth  in  them,  and  they  witness  the  truth  of  another  testi- 
mony of  Paul's,  even  that  of  being  "created  anew  in  Christ 
Tesus  unto  good  works,'  which  God  had  foreordained  that 
all  his  new-iiorn  children  should  walk  in  them,  and  thereby 
show  forth,  by  their  fruits  and  good  works,  that  they  were 
truly  the  children  of  God,  born  of  his  spirit,  and  taught 
of  him  ;  agreeably  to  the  testimony  of  the  prophet,  that 
'the  children  of  the  Lord  are  all  taught  of  the  Lord,  and  in 
righteousness  they  are  established,  and  great  is  the  peace 
of  his  children.'  And  nothing  can  make  them  afraid  that 
man  can  do  unto  them  ;  as  saith  the  prophet  in  his  appeal 
to  Jehovah :  'Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace,  whose 
mind  is  stayed  on  thee,  because  he  trusteth  in  thee.'  There- 
fore let  every  one  that  loves  the  truth.  f(^r  G(xl  is  truth, 
'trust  in  the  Lord  forever,  for  in  the  Lord  Jeliovah  there 
is  everlasting  strength.' 

"I  write  these  things  to  thee,  not  as  though  thou  didst 
iKit  know  them,  but  as  a  witness  to  thy  experience,  as  'two 
are  better  than  f)ne,  and  a  threefold  cord  is  not  quickly 
broken." 

■"I   will  now  draw  to  a  close,  with  just  adding,  for  thy 


LIFE  AND   LABORS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS  225 

eiicoura,ycment,  be  nf  ^<iiul  cheer.  fi)r  no  new  thinL;'  has 
hapjiened  to  us;  for  it  has  e\erbcen  tlie  lot  of  the  righteous 
to  pass  through  many  trials  and  tril)ulatii  ins  in  their  passage 
to  that  glorious,  everlasting  peace  and  ha])py  ahode.  where 
all  sorrow  and  sighing"  come  to  an  end:  the  \alne  <if  which 
is  above  all  price,  for  when  we  ha\e  gi\'en  all  that  we  ha\e. 
and  can  gi\"e.  and  sniTcrcd  all  that  we  can  suffer,  it  is  still 
infinitely  l)ek)w  its  real  xalnc.  And  if  we  are  fa\'f)red  to 
gain  an  inheritance  in  thai  blissful  and  peaceful  abode, 
Avhere  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the  weary  are 
at  rest,'  we  must  ascribe  it  all  to  the  immerited  mercy  and 
loving  kindness  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  who  remains  to 
be  God  oxer  all.  blessed  forever! 

"I  will  now  conclude,  and  in  the  fulness  of  brotherly 
love  to  thee  and  thine,  in  which  m\-  family  unite,  subscribe 
tin-  affectionate  friend. 

"1-:L1  AS   IIUKS. 
••To   Hugh  judge: 

■"I'lease  i)resent  my  love  to  all  my  friends  as  way 
opens." 

29 


APPENDIX. 


A 

DESCENDANTS  OF  ELIAS  HICKS. 

The  only  lineal  descendants  of  l^lias  Hicks  are  tlmuigla 
his  daughters,  Abigail  and  Sarah.  Alngail's  husband.  X'alen- 
tine,  was  her  cousin,  and  Sarah's  husband,  Robert  Seaman, 
was  a  relative  on  the  mother's  side. 

Descendants  of  Valentine  and  Abigail   Hicks. 

CHILDREN    OF   THE  ABOVE. 

Gkandchh.drex  of  Elias  Hicks. — Caroline,  married 
Dr.  William  Seaman  ;  Fhebe.  married  Adonijah  Underliill  (no 
children):  Elias  Hicks,  married  Sarah  Hicks;  Alary  (un- 
married). 

creat-crandchildren  of  elias  hicks. 

Children  of  Dr.  William  Seamax  and  Caroline 
Hicks. — X'alentine  Hicks  Seaman,  married  Rebecca  Crom- 
well ;  Sarah  Seaman,  married  Henry  15.  Cromwell :  Samuel 
Hicks  Seaman,  married  Hannah  Husband. 

Children  of  Elias  Hicks  and  Sarah  Hicks. — Mary, 
married  Peter  B.  Eranklin ;  Elias  Hicks  (unmarried),  de- 
ceased; Caroline  (unmarried),  deceased. 

great-great-grandchildren  of  elias  hicks. 

Children  of  Valentine  H.  and  Rep.ecca  C.  Seaman.^ — - 
W'illiam,  married  Addie  W.  Lobdell ;  Caroline  (infant);^ 
Henry  B.,-  married  Grace  Dutton ;  Edwin  H.  (infant); 
Howard  (unmarried),  deceased;  \'alentine  H.  (unmarried); 
Emily  C.   (unmarried);  Erederic  C.  married  Ethel  Lobdell. 

Children  of  Henry  B.  and  Sarah  Seaiman  Crom- 
well.— (ieorge-''  (unmarried);  Henrv  B.  (unmarried),  de- 
ceased. 

'Note — Those  marked  "(infant)"  died  in  infancy.  Thrise  witli- 
out  notation  are  under  age  and  living. 

'Henry  B.  Seaman  is  a  graduate  of  Swartliniore  College,  class  of 
1881.  and  received  degree  of  C.  E.  in  1884.  Was  for  three  years  Chief 
Engineer  of  the  Public  Service  Commission  of  Greater  New  York. 
He  resigned  this  position  Tenth  month  I,  iQio,  because  he  could  not 
approve  estimates  desired  by  the  authorities.  Since  then  these  esti- 
mates have  been   held  up  as  excessive. 

'  When   Greater   New   York   was   incorporated   (ieorge   Cromwell   was 

226 


APPENDIX  227 

ClIII.DRKX    OF    SaMUKL    11.    AND    IIaXXAH    11.    SkA.MAX. — 

Josc])h  11.  (unmarried);  Caroline  Hicks,  married  William  A. 
Read;  Alary  T.  (unmarried);  Franklin  (unmarried),  de- 
ceased; Sarah,  married  Lloyd  Saltus. 

Children  of  Peter  B.  anj)  jMary  Hicks  l'"kA\i<i.iN. — 
Anne  M.,  married  Walter  A.  Campbell. 

great-great-great-grandchildren  of  elias  hicks. 

Children  of  William  and  Addie  Seaman. —  Howard 
L.  (unmarried)  ;  Jessie  M.  (unmarried). 

Children  of  Henry  B.  and  Grace  D.  Seaman. — Ayres 
C. ;  Henry  Bowman. 

Children  of  Frederic  C.  and  Ethel  L.  Seaman. — 
Esther 

Children  of  William  A.  and  Caroline  Seaman  Read. 
— William  Augustus  ;  Curtis  Seaman  ;  Duncan  Hicks  ;  R.  Bar- 
tow ;  Caroline  Hicks;  Bancroft  (infant);  Bayard  W. ;  Mary 
Elizabeth;  Kenneth  B.   (infant). 

Children  of  Lloyd  and  Sarah  Sicamax  Saltis. — 
Mary  Seaman;  Ethel  S. ;  Seymour;  Lloyd. 

Children  of  Walter  Allison  and  Anne  AI.  Fraxk- 
LiN  Campbell. — Franklin  Allison  ;  Alary  Elizabeth. 

Descendants  of  Robert   Seaman   and   Sarah,     Daughter  of 

Elias  Hicks. 

children  of  the  above.. 

Grandchildrex  of  Elias  Hicks. — Phebe  (died)  ;  Han- 
nah, married  Matthew  F.  Robbins ;  W'illet  (died);  Elizabeth, 
married  Edward  Willis  ;  Elias  H.,  married  Phebe  Underbill ; 
Willct  H.,  married  Alarv  Wing;  Alary  H.,  married  Isaac 
Uillis. 

great-graxdchildrex  of  eli.\s  hicks. 

Childrex  of  Hannah  and  AIatthew^  F.  Robbins. — 
Caroline,  married  Sidney  W' .  Jackson  ;  Walter,  married  Sarah 
E.  Hubbs. 

Children  of  Eliz.m'.eth  and  Edward  Willis. — Sarah 
R. ;  Alary  S.  (died)  ;  Caroline  H.  (died)  ;  Henrietta,  married 
Stephen  J.  Underbill. 

Children  of  Elias  H.  and  Phebe  Seaman. — Alary 
(died);  Samuel  J.,  married  Alatilda  W.  Willets :  Sarah 
(died)  ;  Anna;  Robert,  married  Hannah  W.  Willets;  William 


elected  President  of  the  Borough  of  Richmond.  Although  this  bor- 
ough is  normally  Democratic  in  its  politics,  George  Cromwell  has  been 
re-elected,  and  is  the  only  president  the  borough  has  ever  had.  He 
and  Henry  B.  Seaman  are  double  first  cousins. 


228  APPENDIX 

II.,  married  AFargarct  j.  Laurie:  James  II.,  ma'rried  (  t  i   Ilessie 
Bridges;  (2)   b'loreiice  1  laviland. 

("iin,DRi-;.\  oi-  \\'ii.i.i:r  11.  wn  Makv  Sicamax.  — iMlward 
W.:   Willet   II.;   1-rank   W. 

Cii  ir.DRiiN  OF  .Mary  II.  and  Isaac  W'li.i.is. —  Henry,  mar- 
ried June  IJarnes;  Koheri  .S. 

(;ki: A  i-(;ki:at-(;ka\ijchji.dkk.\    of    kij.\s    hicks. 

."^o.x  oi'  C"  \KoLJi\i-:  AND  SiDNiCN'  \V .  Jackson. — JNI.  l"'rank- 
liii.  married   Annie  W  Jackson. 

L'li  iLi»Ki;.\  oi-  Walticr  and  S.\raii  \\.  Jackson.- — Caro- 
line J.,  married  William  ( r.  Underhill  :  Annie  II..  married 
'idiomas  Rushmore  ;  Cora  A.,  married  John  Marshall. 

CiiiLDRFN  OF  Henrietta  and  Stephen  J.  Undkrihel. — 
Kdward  W.,  married  Emeline  Kissam  ;  Hannah  \\'.;  I  lenry  T., 
married   Dorothy  Vernon  :  Arthur. 

Children  of  Samuel  J.  and  Matilda  W.  Seaman. — 
Mary  W.,  married  Leon  A.  Rushmore;  Samuel  J.,  married 
Kthelena  V.  Lo^art ;  Anna  Louise;  Frederick  W  .  ;  Lewis  \'. 
(died). 

1) Accirn-.R  oi'  I\or.i:Rr  and  IIannaii  W.  .Si:a.\l\n. — 
Phelie  U. 

Children  of  William  IL  and  AL\rgaret  L.  Se.\man. — 
William  Laurie;  Faith  Frances  (died). 

Children  of  Jame.s  H.  and  Bessie  B.  Si:a.\l\.\'. — (ieorgc 
B. ;  Elias  ITaviland. 

CinLDRi:.\  OF  [a.mes  PL  and  h^LORENCE  II.  Seaman.— 
Lertha  Lucina  ;  Willard   II.;  Helen  U. 

great-cjreat-great-c.randchildren  of  elias  hicks. 
Daughter  of  M.  Franklin  and  Annie  T.  Jackson. — 
Marion  l'\ 

ClllLJ)RKN    Ol'    C.\ROr>lNE   J.    AND    WlLLfAM    G.    L^NDEKHILL. 

— Mildred;  Irene;  ^Lu'garet. 

Childri:n  of  .\nxii-:  H.  and  Tho.\l\s  Risii  .moke. — Lil- 
lian A. ;  Elizabeth  A. 

Sox  of  Cora  .\.  and  John  ]\L\rshall. — John  W. 

l)\rGirii'.R  OF  lll•.NR^'  T.  and  Dorothy  L'ndi'.rii  ill. — ■ 
Winifred. 

Son  of  Mary  S.  and  Leon  A.  Rush. moke. — Leon  A. 


Al'FKNDIX  2  JO 

B 

Letter  to  Dr.  Atlee/ 

Lopy  of  a  Idler  fruin  I'.lias  I  licks  to  Dr.  i-'dwin  A.  AlK-t.'. 
of   1 'liiladclpliia: 

'■Ji:ku  no.  .\iiuli  uio.  -'j,   1SJ4. 
"\\\  \)\:\\<  l'"Kii:.\i) : 

■■'Fliy  \(.  ry  acc-e])tablc  letter  of  the  Jytli  ultimo  came  duly 
to  hand,  and  I  have  taken  my  })en  not  only  to  acknowledge  thy 
kindness,  hut  also  to  state  to  thee  the  unfriendlv  an<l  unchris- 
tian conduct  of  Anna  Uraithwaite  toward  me,  not  only  as 
relates  to  that  extract,  hut  in  her  conversation  among  hriends 
and  other>.  traducing  ni\  religious  character,  and  >aying  I 
held  and  promulgated  infidel  doctrines,  etc. — endeavoring  to 
prejudice  the  minds  of  Friends  against  me.  hehind  my  hack, 
in  ()])en  \iolation  of  gospel  order.  She  caiue  Iri  in\-  hduse,  as 
>tate(l  in  the  extract  thou  sent  me,  after  the  (|uarlerly  meeting 
of  ministers  and  elders  at  W'esthury  in  First  month  last.  .\t 
that  meeting  \va>  the  hrst  time  1  saw  her,  which  was  about 
t'i\e  or  six  months  after  her  arrival  in  Xew  Ndrk.  And  as  I 
had  heard  her  well  spoken  of  as  a  minister,  J  could  have  had 
no  preconceived  oi)inion  of  her  but  what  was  fa,vorable,  there- 
fore. I  treated,  her  with  all  the  cordiality  and  friendshi])  1  was 
capable  of.  She  also,  from  all  outward  appearance,  mani- 
fested the  >ame  :  and,  after  dinner,  she  requested,  in  company 
with  A.  .S..  a  feiuale  h'riend  that  was  with  her,  a  i)rivate 
opp(ivtu;n"t\-  with  me.  .So  we  withdrew  into  another  room, 
where  wi'  continued  in  conversation  for  nearly  two  hours. 
And  being  innocent  and  igncjrant  <d'  anv  cati>e  that  1  had 
given,  on  m\  jiart.  for  the  necessity  of  such  an  o])])ortunit}-.  I 
concluded  she  had  nothing  niore  in  view  than  to  have  a  little 
free  conversation  on  the  state  of  those  select  meetings. 

"But,  to  my  surprise,  the  first  subject  she  spoke  upon, 
was  to  call  in  (piestion  a  sentiment  I  hacl  expressed  in  tile 
meeting  aforesaid,  which  ai)peared  to  me  to  be  so  plain  and 
simple,  that  I  concluded  the  weakest  member  in  our  society, 
endued  with  a  rational  understanding,  would  have  seen  the 
propriety  of.  It  was  a  remark  I  made  on  the  absence  of  three 
out  of  four  of  the  representatives  ai)pointe(l  by  one  of  the 
preparative  meetings  to  attend  the  cjuarterly  meeting.  And  I 
having  long  been  of  the  opinion,  that  much  weakness  had  been 
introduced    into    our    <ociety    b}-    injudiciotis    ap])ointments,    I 

*  See  page    164  of   this  book. 


230  APPENDIX 

have  often  been  concerned  to  caution  Friends  on  that  account. 
The  remark  I  made  was  this :  that  I  thought  there  was  some- 
thing wrong  in  the  present  instance — for,  as  we  profess  to 
beheve  in  the  guidance  of  the  Spirit  of  Truth  as  an  unerring 
Spirit,  was  it  not  reasonable  to  expect,  especially  in  a  meeting 
of  ministers  and  elders,  that  if  each  Friend  attended  to  their 
proper  gifts,  as  this  Spirit  is  endued  with  prescience,  that  it 
would  be  much  more  likely,  under  its  divine  influence,  we 
should  be  led  to  appoint  such  as  would  attend  on  particular 
and  necessary  occasion,  than  to  appoint  those  who  would  not 
attend  ? 

"This  idea,  she  contended,  was  not  correct ;  and  the  senti- 
ments she  expressed  on  this  subject  really  affected  me.  To 
think  that  any,  professing  to  be  a  gospel  minister,  called  from 
a  distant  land  to  teach  others,  and  to  be  so  deficient  in  knowl- 
edge and  experience,  in  so  plain  a  case,  that  I  could  not  well 
help  saying  to  her.  that  her  views  were  the  result  of  a  want 
of  religious  experience,  and  that  I  believed  if  she  improved 
her  talent  faithfully,  she  would  be  brought  to  see  better,  and 
acknowledge  the  correctness  of  my  position.  But  she  replied, 
she  did  not  want  to  see  better.  This  manifestation  of  her  self- 
importance,  lowered  her  character,  as  a  gospel  minister,  very 
much  in  my  view  ;  and  her  subsequent  conduct,  while  she  was 
with  us.  abunflantly  corroborated  and  confirmed  this  view  con- 
cerning her.  As  to  her  charge  against  me,  in  regard  to  the 
Scriptures,  it  is  generallv  incorrect,  and  some  of  it  false.  And 
it  is  very  extraordinary,  that  she  should  manifest  so  much 
seeming  friendship  for  me,  when  present,  and  in  my  absence 
.speak  against  me  in  such  an  unbecoming  manner.  Indeed, 
her  conduct  toward  me,  often  reminds  me  of  the  treachery  of 
Judas,  when  he  betrayed  his  ]\Iaster  with  a  kiss.  And,  instead 
of  acting  toward  me  as  a  friend  or  a  Christian,  she  had  been 
watching  for  evil. 

"As  to  my  asserting  that  I  believe  the  Scriptures  were 
held  in  too  high  estimation  by  the  professors  of  Christianity 
in  general.  I  readily  admit,  as  T  have  asserted  it  in  my  public 
communications  for  more  than  forty  years,  but,  generally,  in 
opposition  to  those  that  held  them  to  be  the  only  rule  of  faith 
and  practice ;  and  my  views  have  always  been  in  accordance 
with  our  primitive  Friends  on  this  point.  And  at  divers  times, 
when  in  conversation  with  hireling  teachers,  (and  at  other 
times)  I  have  given  it  as  my  opinion,  that  so  long  as  they 
held  the  Scriptures  to  be  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice, 
and  bv  which  they  justify  wars,  hireling  ministry,  predestina- 
tion, and  what  thev  call  the  ordinances,  viz:    water  baptism 


APPENDIX  231 

and  the  passover  supper,  mere  relics  of  the  Jewish  hiw,  so  long 
the  Scriptures  did  such,  more  harm  than  good  :  hut  that  the 
fault  was  not  in  the  Scriptures,  hut  in  their  literal  and  carnal 
interpretation  of  them — and  that  would  always  be  the  case 
until  they  came  to  the  Spirit  that  gave  them  forth,  as  no  other 
power  could  break  the  seal,  and  open  them  rightly  to  us. 
Hence  I  have  observed,  in  my  public  communications,  and  in 
conversation  with  the  members  of  different  denominations,  and 
others,  who  held  that  the  Scriptures  are  the  primary  and  only 
rule  of  faith  and  practice — that,  according  to  the  true  analogy 
of  reasoning,  'that  for  which  a  thing  is  such — the  thing  itself  is 
more  such' — as  the  Spirit  was  before  the  Scriptures,  and  above 
them,  and  without  the  Spirit  they  could  not  have  been  written 
or  known.  And  with  this  simple  but  conclusive  argument,  I 
have  convinced  divers  of  the  soundness  of  our  doctrine  in  this 
respect — that  not  the  Scriptures  but  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  which 
Jesus  commanded  his  disciples  to  wait  for,  as  their  only  rule, 
they  would  teach  them  all  things,  and  guide  them  into  all  truth, 
is  the  primary  and  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  and  is  the 
only  means  by  which  our  salvation  is  effected. 

"The  extract  contains  so  much  inconsistency,  and  is  so 
incorrect,  that,  as  I  proceed,  it  appears  less  and  less  worthy 
of  a  reply,  and  yet  it  does  contain  some  truth.  I  admit  that 
I  did  assert,  and  have  long  done  it,  that  we  cannot  believe 
what  we  do  not  understand.  This  the  Scripture  affirms.  Deut. 
xxix.  29 — 'The  secret  things  belong  unto  the  Lord  our  God, 
hut  the  things  that  are  revealed  belong  unto  us  and  our  chil- 
dren forever,  that  we  may  do  all  the  words  of  this  law' — and 
all  that  is  not  revealed,  is  to  us  the  same  as  a  nonentity,  and 
will  forever  remain  so,  until  it  is  revealed ;  and  that  which  is 
revealed,  enables  us,  agreeably  to  the  apostle's  exhortation,  to 
give  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in  us,  to  honest  inquirers.  I 
also  assert,  that  we  ought  to  bring  all  doctrines,  whether  written 
or  verbal,  to  the  test  of  the  .S])irit  of  Truth  in  our  minds,  as 
the  only  sure  director  relative  to  the  things  of  God  ;  otherwise, 
why  is  a  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  given  to  every  man  if  it 
it  not  to  profit  by;  and,  if  the  Scriptures  are  about  the  Spirit, 
and  a  more  certain  test  of  doctrines,  why  is  the  Spirit  given, 
seeing  it  is  useless?  lUit  this  doctrine,  that  the  Scriptures  are 
the  only  rule  of  faith  and  j^ractice,  is  a  fundamental  error,  and 
is  manifested  to  be  so  by  the  Scriptures  themselves,  and  also 
by  our  primitive  Friends"  writings.  It  would  seem  that  Anna 
Rraithwaite  has  strained  every  nerve  in  exaggerating  my 
words,  for  I  have  not  said  more  than  R.  Barclay,  and  many 
others  of  our  predecessors,  respecting  the  errors  in  our  English 


232  APPENDIX 

Iranslation  of  the  Hibk-.  liencc  it  a])pears.  that  she  was  deter- 
mined to  criminate  me  at  all  events,  by  striving  to  make  me 
erroneous  for  saying  that  the  Gospel  handed  to  us.  was  no 
more  authentic  than  many  other  writings.  Sure!}'  a  ]:)erson  that 
did  not  assent  to  this,  must  be  ignorant  indeed. 

■■.\re  not  the  writings  of  our  ])rimitive  J-^rienrls  as 
autluiitic  as  any  liook  or  writing,  and  esjieciallv  such  as  were 
written  so  many  centuries  ago,  the  originals  of  which  have 
])een  lost  many  hundred  years?  And  are  not  the  histories  of 
|)assing  events,  written  by  candid  men  of  the  present  age. 
which  thousands  know  to  be  true,  as  authentic  as  the   Bible? 

"Ifer  assertions,  that  1  asked  if  she  could  be  so  ignorant 
as  to  ijelieve  in  the  account  of  the  creation  of  the  world,  and 
that  I  had  been  convinced  for  the  last  ten  years,  that  it  was 
onl}-  an  allegory,  and  that  it  had  been  esix'cially  revealerl  to 
me  at  a  meeting  in  Liberty  Street  about  that  time:  that  1  asked 
her  if  she  thought  Adam  was  any  worse  after  he  had  eaten 
the  forbidden  fruit  than  before,  and  that  T  said  I  did 
not  believe  he  was ;  and  also  her  asserting,  that  ]  said  that 
jesus  Christ  was  no  more  than  a  prophet,  and  that  1  further 
said,  that  if  she  would  read  the  Scriptures  attentively  she 
would  believe  that  Jesus  was  the  son  of  Joseph :  these  asser- 
tions of  hers,  are  all  false  and  unfounded,  and  must  be  the  re- 
stilt  of  a  feigned  or  forced  construction  of  something  I  might 
have  said,  -to  suit  her  own  purpose.  For  those  who  do  not 
wish  to  be  satisiied  with  fair  reasoning,  there  is  no  end  to  their 
cavilling  and  misrejiresentation.  As  to  what  she  relates  as  it 
regards  the  manner  of  our  coming  into  the  world  in  our  in- 
fant state,  it  is  my  belief,  that  we  come  into  the  world  in  the 
same  state  of  innocence,  and  endowed  with  the  same  propen- 
sities and  desires  that  our  first  parents  were,  in  their  primeval 
state :  and  this  Jesus  Christ  has  established,  and  must  be  con- 
clusive in  the  minds  of  all  true  believers  ;  when  he  took  a  little 
child  in  his  arms  and  blessed  him.  and  said  to  them  around 
him  that  except  they  were  converted,  and  become  as  that 
little  child,  they  should  in  no  case  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.  Of  course,  all  the  desires  and  pro])ensities  of  that 
little  child,  and  of  our  first  parents  in  their  primeval  state, 
must  have  been  good,  as  they  were  all  the  endowments  of  their 
Creator,  and  given  to  them  for  a  special  purpose.  T.ut  it  is 
the  improper  and  unlawful  indulgence  of  them  that  is  evil. 

"T  readily  acknowledge.  I  have  not  been  able  to  see  or 
understand,  how  the  cruel  persecution  and  crucifixion  of  Jesus 
Chri-t.  bv  the  wicked  and  hard-hearted  Jews,  should  expiate 
mv   sins :  and   never  have   known  anvthing  to  efifect  that   for 


APPENDIX  233 

inc,  but  the  grace  of  God,  that  taught  uie,  agrceahl)  to  the 
apostle's  doctrine,  to  deny  all  ungodliness  and  tlie  world's 
lusts,  and  do  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godly  in  this  present 
world:  and  as  I  liave  faithful!}-  abode  under  its  teachings,  in 
full  obedience  thereto,  1  ha\e  been  brought  to  believe  that  my 
sins  were  forgiven,  and  1  i)rrniitted  to  sit  under  the  Lord's 
teaching,  as  saith  the  i)rophet :  'that  the  children  of  the  Lord 
are  all  taught  of  the  Lord,  and  in  righteousness  they  are  estab- 
lished, and  great  is  the  ])eace  of  his  children."  And  so  long  as 
I  feel  this  peace,  there  is  nothing  in  this  world  that  makes  me 
afraid,  as  it  respects  my  eternal  condition.  lUit  if  any  of  my 
friends  have  received  and  known  benefit  frnni  aii\-  outward 
sacrifice,  T  do  not  envy  them  their  privilege.  Ihit,  surely,  they 
would  not  be  willing  that  T  shf)uld  acknowledge  as  a  truth,  that 
which  I  have  no  kind  of  knowledge  of.  I  am  willing  to  admit, 
that  Divine  Mercy  is  no  doubt  watching  o\er  his  rational 
creation  for  their  good,  and  may  secretly  work  at  times  for 
their  preservation;  but,  if,  in  his  infinite  wisdom  and  good- 
ness, he  sees  meet  to  hide  il  from  us,  as  most  consistent  with 
his  wisdom  and  our  good,  let  us  have  a  care  that  we  do  not. 
in  the  jiride  of  our  hearts,  undertake  to  l>rey  into  his  secret 
counsels,  lest  we  olTend  ;  but  be  content  with  what  he  is  pleased 
to  reveal  to  us,  let  it  be  more  or  less,  and,  especially,  if  he  is 
pleased  to  speak  peace  to  our  minds.  And  when  he  graciously 
condescends  to  do  this,  we  shall  know  it  to  be  a  peace  that 
the  world  cannot  give,  with  all  its  enjoyments,  neither  take 
away,  with  all  its   frcwvns. 

"I  shall  now  draw  to  a  close,  and,  with  the  salutation  of 
gospel  love.  I  subscribe  myself  thy  affectionate  and  sym|)a- 
thizing  friend  and  brother. 

"Elias  Hicks.'" 
To  Edwin  A.  Atlee. 


C 

The  Portraits. 

The  cut  facing  ])a.qe  1  _' 1  is  a  ])hotograpli  from  the  painting 
bv  Henry  Ketcham.  This  was  sketched  by  the  artist  who  was 
ill  the  public  gallery  of  the  meeting  house  at  different  times 
when  Elias  Hicks  was  ])reaching.  his  presence  being  unknown 
to  the  preacher.  It  was  originally  a  full-length  portrait,  but 
manv  vears  ago  was  injured  by  fire,  when  it  was  cut  down 
to  bust  size.  For  some  time  it  was  in  the  home  of  the  late 
Elwood  \\'alter.  of  Englewood.  X.   f.     Lor  many  years  it  ha? 

30 


234  APPENDIX 

been  in  the  fannl_\-  of  1  lcnr\-  II.  Seaman.  It  is  Ijelieved  that 
the  pictures  made  under  (Hrection  of  the  late  Edward  Hopper, 
had  this  portrait  as  llieir  original.  The  engravings  i  i  the 
"History  of  Long  Island"  and  in  the  "Complete  Works  of 
Walt  Whitman,"  are  probably  basetl  on  this  jiortrait.  They 
have  passed  through  such  a  "sleeking-up"  process,  liowever, 
as  to  lack  the  individuality  of  the  more  crude  production. 

The  frontispiece  is  from  a  ])hotogra|)h  of  the  bust  of 
Elias  Hicks,  by  the  sctdptor.  William  Ordway  Partridge,  and 
was  made  for  Henry  B.  Seaman.  In  making  the  bust  the  artist 
used  the  oil  painting  referred  to  above,  and  all  of  the  other 
pictures  of  Elias  Hicks  in  existence,  including  the  full-length 
silhouette.  He  also  had  the  bust,  said  to  have  been  taken 
from  the  death  mask,  and  from  them  all  attemj^ted  to  con- 
strtict  what  may  be  termed  the  "ideal"  Elias  Hicks. 


The  Death  Mask. 

Much  has  !)een  written  about  tlie  death  mask  of  VTias 
tlicks.  from  which  the  bust  in  Swarthmore  Colle^-e,  in  the 
New  \'()rk  Friend's  r>il)rary  and  other  places  was  made. 
That  such  a  mask  \\as  taken  iidmits  of  no  doubt,  and  the 
only  clear  statement  reia,ardin^-  the  matter  is  i;i\en  below. 
The  Inist  is  in  the  ])ossession  of  Harry  B.  Seaman.  The 
issue  of  "Xiles  Rejjister"  referred  to  was  published  only 
six  weeks  after  the  death  of  Elias  Hicks. 

"We  understand  an  Italian  artist  of  this  city,  has  secretly 
disinterred  the  body  of  Elias  Hicks,  the  celebrated  Quaker 
preacher,  and  moulded  his  bust.  It  seems  he  had  applied  to  the 
friends  of  the  deceased  to  take  a  moulding  previous  to  his  in- 
terment, but  was  refused.  Suspicion  being  excited  that  the 
grave  had  been  disturbed,  it  was  examined,  and  some  bits  of 
|)Iaster  were  found  adhering  to  the  hair  of  the  deceased.  The 
enthusiastic  Italian  was  visited,  and  owned  that,  as  he  had  been 
denied  the  privilege  of  taking  a  bust  before  interment,  he  had 
adopted  the  only  method  of  obtaining  one.  We  have  heard 
nothing  more  on  the  subject,  except  that  the  bust  is  a  most 
excellent  likeness."  ^ 

'  Quoted  from  New  York  Constellation,  in  "Niles  Weekly- 
Register,"   April    ID.    1830.  p.    124. 


APPENDIX  235 

E 

A  Bit  of  Advertising. 

As  showing  the  way  the  presence  of  ministering  Friends 
was  advertised  in  Philadel])hia  eighty-eight  years  ago,  we  re- 
])n)(hice  the  following,  which  a])peared  in  some  o\  the  ])a])ers  ' 
of  that  period  : 

"Arrived  in  this  city  on  the  7th  inst..  Elias  Hicks,  a  dis- 
tinguished minister  of  the  gospel,  the  IJenign  Doctrines  of 
which  he  is  a  faithful  embassador,  has  for  many  years  past 
practically  endeavored  (both  by  prece])t  and  example)  to  pro- 
mulgate in  its  primeval  beauty  and  simplicity,  without  money 
and  wdthout  price.  Those  who  are  Friends  to  plain  truth 
and  evangelical  preaching,  that  have  heretofore  been  edified 
and  comforted  under  his  ministry,  will  doubtless  be  pleased 
to  learn  of  his  arrival,  and  avail  themselves  of  the  present 
o])portunitv  of  attending  such  appointments  as  he,  under  the 
direction  of  Divine  influence,  may  see  proper  to  make  in  his 
tour  of  Gos]^el  Love,  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  city  and  its 
vicinity. 


'A  Citizen." 


Philadelphia,  December  9,  1822. 


Acknovi^ledgement. 

The  author  of  this  book  acknowledges  his  indebtedness 
in  its  preparation  to  the  following,  who  either  in  furnishing 
data,  or  otherwise  assisted  in  its  preparation  :  William  and 
Margaret  L.  Seaman,  and  Samuel  J.  Seaman,  Glen  Cove. 
N.  Y. ;  Robert  and  Anna  Seaman.  Jericho,  N.  Y. ;  Henry  B. 
Seaman,  Brooklyn.  N.  Y. ;  Dr.  Jesse  H.  Green.  West  Chester. 
Pa.:  Mary  Willis.  Rochester.  N.  Y. :  Flla  K.  Barnard  and 
Joseph  J.  Janney.  Baltimore.  Md. ;  Henry  B.  Hallock.  Br 
ivn,   X.   Y. :   John    Comly.    Philadelphia,    Pa. 


( )i  )ii 


'  The   Cabinet,  or  Works  of   Darkness   Brought   to   Light.     Philadel- 
phia.  1824.  p.  33. 


236  APrENDIX 

G 

Sources  of  Information. 

In  niakiuii  this  book  tlie  tollowiiiif  arc  the  main  sources 
(it   iiirorniation   that  have   i)ccn   consuhed.   which   arc   reterred 

to   those   \\lt(t  niav   wisli   to  jj;o   into   ihc   (k'tails  <if   the   matter 
inxdh'cd  : 

Journal  of  i'dia^  Mick>.  Xcw  York.  iS^-'.  I'nhH^hcd  loy 
Isaac    I".   I  h  >])|icr. 

Idle  l.nndy  l'"amily.  liy  WiHiant  Llinton  Armstrong,. 
Xi'w    r.rnnswick,  1902. 

Ihc  Onaker ;  A  Series  of  Sermons  l)y  Members  of  tlie 
Society  of  I'ddends,  rhiladclphia.  i^2~-2>^.  L'td)lished  by  Mar- 
cus   I".   (".   ( Inuld. 

A  Scries  of  b^xtcmporancous  l)iscoursc>.  etc.,  by  h>has 
ilick-.  rbiladcl])hia.  1X25.  I'ubhshcd  1)\-  bisepli  and  Ivhvard 
Marker. 

Letters  of  I'dias  1  lick^.  I 'liikKU'lphia.  iSin,  Published 
b\-    l\    l'dl\\()0(i   Lha])man. 

An  Account  of  the  Life  and  d"ra\el>  of  Sannicl  I'xnvnas. 
I'.ditcd  b\-  j.    licssc.      London,    \J^(i. 

AnlcXiccnc  l'"atliers.  XOl.ll.  r.uffalo,  \.  ^■..  1S85. 
Idle  Christian  Litcratiu-e   Publishing  Cdmpan}. 

The  Quakers.  IJy  Frederick  Storrs  ldu-iier.  London, 
|SS().     Swan,  Sounenschein  &  Co. 

.\  Review  of  the  (ieneral  and  Particular  Causo  Which 
Nave  Produced  the  Late  Disorders  in  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
I'd-iends  Held  in  Philadeli^hia.  P.y  James  Cockburu.  Philadel- 
phia.  1829. 

I^^oster's  Report.  Two  volumes.  1>\-  Jeremiah  J.  Foster, 
Master  and  Examiner  in  Chancery.      Philadelphia.  1831. 

Rules  of  Discipline  of  the  >'earl\-  ^^eeting  of  I'riends 
Ikdd  in   Philadel])hia.      iSof). 

The  Friend:  or  Advocate  of  I'rutli.  Philadcliibia.  1.S28. 
Published  by   .M .  T.  C.  C.ould. 

An  .\i)ologv  for  the  d'rtic  christian  Divinity,  etc.  l>y 
Robert  Pjarclay.     Philadelphia,  1877.     Friends'  Book  Store. 

^lemoirs  of  Anna  Braithwaite.  By  her  son,  J.  Bevan 
P)raithwaite.     Loudon,   1905.     Lleadley   Brothers. 

The  Christian  Inquirer.  New  ^'ork.  182(1.  Published  by 
B.   P.ates. 

[.  Bevan  P.raithwaite :  .\  h^ricud  o\  the  Xinetcenth  Cen- 
turv.  P>v  His  Idiildren.  London.  1909.  Hodder  &  .Stough- 
tou. 


APPENDIX  237 

Scniidiis   1)\     l'"lias    llick>,   Ann   j()nc>   and   (Others   of   the 
Suciet}-  of    I'licnds,   cic.      lirooklyn,    182S. 

Journal  of    Tlionias  Shillilot'.      London.    iS,V;.      i  larvey  & 
i  )arton. 

Mcnioi-ials  of  jolni  liarlrani  and  I  lum|)ln"c\-  Marsliall. 
Il\'    William    1  )aiiin54ton,    riiiladcl])liiu,    1849. 

The  American  C'onllici.  I'.\  Horace  Greeley.  Ilartford, 
CAinn.,  18^)4.     (  ).  1).  Case  &:  Co. 

Memoirs  of  Life  and  Reli.qinus  Labors  of  Ldward  1  licks. 
I'liiladelphia,   1851. 

Life  of  Walt  Whitman.      Henry   Lryan  Binns. 

Complete  Works  of  Walt   Whitman.      1902. 

History  of  Lonj;"  Island. 

I'roceedings  of  the  Manchester  Conference.      i8(;5. 

Stephen  Crellett.  Ily  William  (  niest.  I'liiladelphia,  1833. 
1  lenry  Longstreth. 

ERRATA. 

i'age  72,  25th  line,  Elizabeth  Hicks  died  icSyi,  not  lySf. 

Page  73,  2d  line,  Robert  Seaman  died  1870,  not  1S60. 

Page  74,  7th  line,  for  Martha,  read  Abigail. 

Page  113,  next  to  last  line  2d  i^aragraph.  for  leave,  read 
leaves. 

Pages  2  12,  235  and  242,  for  Marv  Willis,  read  Sarah  L. 
Willis. 

Page  22O,  to  children  of  Valentine  and  Abigail  Micks, 
add  Elizabeth. 

Page  228,  10th  line,  for  Sarah  E.  Jackson  read  Sarah  E. 
Robbins. 


INDEX 


Abolitionists.    Garrisonian.    (S7 
After    the    "Separation,"    195 
Aldrich,   Royal,   reference  to.  6q 
Ancestry   and    Boyhood,    17 
Appendix,  226 
Apostolic  Christian,  an.  7 
Apprenticeship  of  E.  H.,  22 
Atlee.  Dr.   Edwin   A.,  E.   H.'s  let- 
ter to,  .\ppendix  B  :  reference   to, 
166 

r.altiniore  Y.  M.,  E.  H.  attends,  44 
liaptists.    Southern,    reference    to, 

94 
Barclay's        Apology,        quotation 

from,    143-144 
Bartrani.  John,  reference  to,   190; 
sketch     of,     190;     his     supposed 
deism.   190-191 
Beacon    Controversy,    the,    169-170 
Berry,  Mary,  at  Easton,   Md.,  y] 
Binns.  Henry   Byran.  describes   E. 

H.'s  preaching.   212-218 
Black  people  commended,  .37 
Bnwnas,  Samuel    (note),  18 
Braithwaite.     .\nna,     referred     to. 
49;      sketch      of      (note),      161: 
writes  to   E.   H.,   162:   writes  to 
Friend  in  Flushing,   16.^:  writes 
to    E.    H.    from    England.    16.;: 
writes    to    E.    H.    from    Kipp's 
Bay,     t68:    advised    by    Jericho 
ministers    and    elders,    169;    late 
reference  to  "Hicksism,"  170 
Braithwaite.    Isaac,     reference     to 
(note).    i6t :    reference   to.    179- 

Braithwaite,  J.  Bevan   (note).  164- 
170 

Camp   meetings.   E.    H.    condenms. 

104 
Carpenter.    E.    H.    apprenticed   as, 

22 
Chris't,  Divinitv  of.  115.  116.   156 


Christ  as  saviour.  156-157 
Clarkson,  Thomas,  receives   Hicks' 

pamphlet.   90 
Clement   of   Alexandria,   reference 

to,    106 
Conflict,  The  American   (note),  94 
Court  Crier,  E.  H.  imitates,  62 
Cotton  gin,  invention  of.  94 
Cropper,  James    (note).  89:  letter 

from  E.  H.,  90 

Dancing,  opinion  of,  22 
Discipline,  E.  H.'s  regard  for.  29 
Disownment  and  doctrine.  188 
Disownments     for    doctrine.     190: 

E.      H.      on,      191-193:      during 

slavery  agitation,  87-88 
Division,  before  the.  121 
Dutchess     County,     separation     in. 

Doctrine,  statement  of  by  Phila- 
delphia Meeting  for  .Sufferings, 
139 

Early  labors  in  ministry,   t^i 

Easton,  Aid.,  letter  from,  y; 

Election,  E.  H.  on,  110 

Evans,  Jonathan,  opposes  E.  H., 
127;  clerk  Meeting  for  Suffer- 
ings, 139;  expounds  orthodox 
doctrine,   153 

Exeter.  Pa.,  E.  H.  writes  letter 
from.  .^8 

Family,  the  Hicks,  71  :  E.  H.'s 
statement  about,  71  ;  children  in. 

First  Trouble  in  Philadelphia,  126 
Fisher,    Sanuiel    R..    entertains    E. 

H..  44 
Flushing.  O.,  E.   H.  meets  opposi- 
tion in.  50:  also   (note),  50 
Free  Masonry,  E.  H.  on.  103 
Friends,   Progressive    (note),  88 


238 


INDKX 


-'.59 


Garrisdii.  William  Lloyd,  on  So- 
ciety of   I'Viends,  i^J 

Gibbons,  James  S.,  is  disowned,  J^7 

(ioldsmitb.  Oliver,  extract  from 
-Deserted    Village,"    68 

(lould,  Marcus  T.  C.  pid)lisher 
"The  Quaker,"   1 5-'- 15.5 

(irellett,  Stephen,  sketch  of 
(note).  123;  questions  ortho 
doxy  of    E.   H.,    12,5 

(ireeley,    Horace,    quotation    from, 

<)4 
(ireen.    Dr.  Jesse   C,  reference  to, 

_M  1  ;     recollections     of      K.      H.. 

211-212 
Green     Street     Alouthly     Meelint;. 

center  of  difficulty,   147  140 
Gurney,     Joseph     John,     reft'rence 

to.    165 

Harris,  ])r.  J.  Rendell.  criticises 
E.   H..  208 

Heaven  and  hell.  !'..  H.  on,  1  10- 
I II 

Hicks,  Abigail,  daughter  of  \L  H., 
72;  picture  of,  facing.  97 

Hicks,  David,  son  of  E.  H.,  72 

Hicks,  Edward,  sketch  of  (note). 
202;   estimate   of   E.   H.,   203 

Hicks.  Elias,  apostolic  Christian, 
7 :  his  type  of  Quakerism,  7 : 
reading  Scriptures,  12;  refer- 
ence to  ohl  folks,  13:  objects  to 
flower  bed,  13:  sells  wheat  at 
low  price  to  neighbors,  14: 
favors  disciplinary  equality  for 
wouieti,  15;  birth,  18;  reference 
to  parents,  11.  19:  death  of 
mother.  20:  reference  to  sing- 
ing and  running  horses,  20;  ap- 
prenticed to  learn  carpenterV 
I  rade.  22 ;  on  dancing.  22-23  • 
on  hunting,  23-24;  reference  to 
possibly  lost  condition,  23: 
statement  regardin,g  his  mar- 
ri;ige.  24;  marriage  application 
in  monthly  meetin.g,  25;  takes 
up  residence  in  Jericho,  26;  a 
surveyor.  2j  :  appears  in  the 
ministry,  28-29;  regard  for  dis- 
cipline, 29;  recorded  a  minister, 
.^o :  passes  through  military  lines 
in  Revolutionary  War.  31  ; 
makes  hrst  long  reli.gious  jour 
ney.    32:    visits    Nine    Partner-;. 


\ermont,  elc,  34;  visits  New 
l'".ngland,  ^^S'  visits  Philadelphia 
;ind  Baltimore  Yearly  Meetings, 
30 ;  first  sermon  against  slavery, 
3();  letter  from  Evasion,  Md.,  t,/ ; 
visit  to  states  south  of  Xew 
^  ork.  38;  visit  to  Canada,  40; 
visit  Xew  England  meetings, 
_|2;  goes  to  Ohio,  43;  at  Balti- 
more \'.  \L.  44;  starts  on  last 
long  religious  journey,  46; 
nu'ets  oppositit)!!  at  Westland, 
47:  experience  at  I'rownsville, 
47;  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  ()..  48-49; 
attends  Ohio  Y.  M.,  49-.io ;  dis- 
turbance at  Flushing,  O.,  .^o ; 
.ittends  Indiana  Y.  M.,  ^2: 
trouble  at  West  Grove.  Pa.,  .^3; 
extent  of  his  travels,  56:  ideas 
about  the  ministry,  57;  speaks 
of  his  own  ministry,  58;  against 
premeditation,  59;  measuring 
the  ministry.  ()0-6i  :  imitates 
court  crier,  62:  advice  touching 
meetings  and  ministry,  63;  is 
frequently  indisposed,  64;  his 
Jericho  property.  69;  statement 
.about  his  wife,  71  ;  as  a  father, 
■;2:  letters  to  his  wife,  76-83;  on 
the  slavery  question,  84-94; 
various  opinions,  95;  on  the  joys 
of  labor,  97;  ideas  regarding 
railroads.  98;  ideas  about 
Thanksgiving,  102:  opposes 
I'reemasonry,  103;  some  points 
of  doctrine,  107-120;  has  trouble 
in  Philadelphia,  126-128;  writes 
letter  to  Philadelphia  elders, 
132;  in  the  time  of  unsettlenient, 
139-1.^1:  three  sermons  re- 
viewed. 1.52-160;  is  visited  by 
.Anna  Braithwaite.  162;  writes 
to  Dr.  Atlee,  164;  writes  to 
.Anna  Braithwaite,  169;  in 
1  )utchess  County  with  Ann 
Tones,  171-176;  contact  with  T. 
Shillitoc,  184-185;  at  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant and  Short  Creek,  O.,  186- 
187:  disowned  by  Westbury  and 
Jericho  Alonthly  Aleeting,  189; 
ideas  about  disownment,  193- 
194;  at  Rose  and  Hester 
Streets.  X'ew  York,  195;  re- 
marks on  reception  by  Friends, 
106:  assumes  the  humorous  role, 
\<)(^■.    received    by   Friends   after 


240 


NDEX 


long  WL'Stcni  trip,   197;  <lcath  of 
wife,       198;       visits       Dutchess 
County,   199;   preaches   in   state- 
house,    Albany,    200;    letter    to 
Johnson    Legg,    201  ;    his    dying 
testimony,   204;    critics   of,   202- 
2TO;   a  logical  thinker,  211;   his 
kindness  to  poor,  213-214;  deals 
with   corn   thief.   214:   his  dying 
testimony    against    slavery,    214; 
sufferings    for   peace    principles. 
215-216;    helps   organize   charity 
society,  216-217:  putting  of?  har- 
ness, 218-225 ;   his  last  traveling 
minute.     220;     attends     his     last 
monthly   meeting,   220-221  ;    suf- 
fers   stroke    of    paralysis,    221  : 
his  death,  221  ;  his  funeral,  221  ; 
last  letter  to  Hugh  Judge,  222 
flicks,  Elias,  Jr..  son  of  E.  H.,  73 
Hicks,    Elizabeth,   daughter   of   E. 
H.,  72;  picture  of,  facing,  97... 
Hicks,   Sir   Ellis,   reference  to.    T7 
Hicks  Family,  the.  71 
Hicks.  Jonathan,  son  of  E.  H.,  73 
Hicks,  John,  son  of  E.  H..  72 
Hicks,    Jemima,    wife    of    E.    H., 
estimate    of,    74-75:    letters    to, 
11,  78.  79-  80.  81.  82;   death  of. 
198;   funeral  of.   ig8-i99 
Hicks,  Martha,  daughter  of  E.  H,. 

72;  picture  of.  facing.  97 
Hicks.   Sarah,   daughter  of   E.  H.. 

72 
Hicks,      Judge      Thomas,      great- 
grandfather    E.     H.,     18:     be- 
friends S.   Bownas.   t8 
Hicksville,  reference  to.  66    ' 
Hicks.  Valentine,  son-in-law  of  E. 
H.,   reference   to.  66:    President 
Long  Island  Railroad.   100;  pic- 
ture of.   facing.  97 

Hodgson,  W..  reference  to  E.  H.'s 

sentiments.  206 
Home  at  Jericho,  the.  66 
Hopper,    Isaac    T..    reference    to 

disownment  of.  87 
Humor,  E.  H.  indulges  in,   196 

Immortality.  E.  H.   on.   112-T14 
Indiana  Y.  M..  E.  H.  attends.  51 
Inquirer.     The     Christian     (note). 

T02 
Introduction.    11 


Jackson,      Halliday.      arrested      at 

Ohio  Y.  M.,  49;  statemenl  about 

(note),  49 
Jericho,  home  at,  66 
Jericho    Monthly    Meeting,    mem- 
bers   at    time    of    "separation," 

188;  E.  H.  advises,  200 
Johnson,      Oliver,      on      abolition 

claims  of  Friends,  88 
Jones.    Ann.    in    Dutchess    County. 

171  ;      extracts      from     sermons. 

171-172 
Jones.    George,    reference   to,    174- 

176 
Judge,    Hugli,    sketch    of     (note). 

221-222;    reference    to,    221:    E. 

H.'s  letter  to,  222-225 
Jesus,    death    and    resurrection   of. 

1 18-120 

Keith,    George,    sketch    of    (note), 

Kennett  Monthly  Meeting,  ex- 
tract  from  minutes,  88 

Kingston.  Canada,  E.  H.  writes 
letter   from.  40 

Labor,    ideas    about,   96-98 
Lamb,   blood   of.    155 
Lewis,  Evan    (note),  89 
Liberator,    the.     quotations     from. 

87-88 
Lloyd.   Isaac,   statement   by.    154 
Lost   condition,  reference  to.  2.^ 
Lundy.       Benjamin.       sketch       of 

(note).  86 

Manchester  Conference,  proceed- 
ings of  (note),  208:  quotation 
from,   208 

Marriage  of  E.  H..  25 

Marrioi,  Charles,  his  disownment. 

Merritt.  Jesse,  travels  with  E.  H.. 
54 :  is  homesick.  54 

Meeting  ministers  and  elders,  a 
visiting  committee,  2,^ 

Meeting  for  Sufferings,  to  con- 
trol inembership,  150 

Mifflin.  Daniel,  emancipates 

slaves.   8d 

Mitflin.  Warner.  emancipates 
slaves.  84 ;  presents  memorial  to 
Congress.    84:    reference    to.    85 

Mind,  effect  on  body.   100 

Minister.  E.  H.   recorded  as.  30 


NDKX 


-Ml 


Ministry,  I'".,  li.'s  first  appraraiicr 
ill,  28;  ideas  alioiit,  57;  speaks 
of  his  own,  58 :  measuring  tiie. 
60-61 

Miiintr,    I'".    H/s   last    Iraxeliiiii,,   2Ju 

Mii-acnlt>iis  rmKH-ptinn,  the,  114, 
194 

Monthly  Mceling,  E.  II.  alteiul> 
his  last,  220-221 

Mciti.   Adam    (  note  ),  35 

Mott.  James,  Sr.,  refei^ence  to 
(note),  ,35;  writes  E.  H.,  12,3: 
eritieises   E.    FE.   205 

Mott.  James  and  Eueretia,  refer- 
ence   to,    35 

Mosheim's  Ecclesiatical  History, 
refei  ence  to,  105 

Mt.  Pleasant.  O.,  disturhance  in 
meeting  at,  48-49:  "S'early  Meet- 
ino  1828  at,  49-30:  E.  H.  and 
T.  Shillitoe  at.   t86 

Xew  hjiiilaiid  V.  M.  \isited  by  E. 
IE,  35  ;  attended  l)y  English 
Eriends,    18,3 

Xew  lersey.  hViends  in,  ap])ro\'e 
K.    11.,    [96 

-Xew  Yn\-\<  Y.  M.,  attended  liy 
I'jiglish  Friends.  183:  by  T. 
Shillitoe.  1828.  183:  extract 
from  minute  of.  183 :  T.  Shilli- 
toe objects  to  visitors   in,    183 

X'ine  Partners,  sermon  at,  T23 

()hi.7  V.  M.  attended  by  K.  H.,  48- 

49,   186 
Oshoni,        Charles,        prays        and 

preaches  two  hours.  50 

Paine,  Thomas,  referred  to.  117: 
E.  H.  on.  117:  E.  TT.  compared 
with,   167 

Parker's,  Hicks's  sermons,  ex- 
tracts from,  92-93 

Philadelphia  Elders  write  E.  H., 
1,30-131 

Philadelphia  Meeting  for  Suffer- 
ings starts  charge  of  E.  H.'s 
unsoundness,  129;  issues  state- 
ment of  doctrine,  1,39-143 

Pine  Street  Monthly  Meeting 
offers  affront  to   E.   H.,    126-127 

Property,  E.  H.'s  views  about,  9S- 
96 


Uuak'erism,    lyi)e   of,    7 

Quaker,"  "''riie,  extracts    tiniii,  91. 

96 
Quaker  creed,  a  sort   of.   139,    143 

Railroad,  E.  H.  opposes,  1)9:  the 
Eong  Island,  99;  Baltimore  and 
Ohio,  98-99;  the  first   (note),  99 

Recollections,  reminiscences  and 
testimonies,  211-217 

Reli.iiious  journeys  in    1828.  46 

Routli,  Martha,  writes  letter  to  E. 
PI,   90 

Roy,  Ranimouhan.  sketch  of 
(note),  206;  writes  E.  H.,  io7 

Salvation,   universal.    108-109 

Salvation,  vital,   159 

Satan,   116 

Schools,  public,  ideas  about,   101 

Seaman,  Gideon,  reference  to,  so, 
182 

.Seaman.  Jemima,  reference  to. 
24 :   marries  E.   H..  2.S 

Seaman.  Captain  John,  moves  to 
Long  Island,  26 

Seaman.  Jonathan.  father  of 
Jemima.  26 

Seaman.  Lazarus,  I\irilan  divine, 
26 

Sermons,  leii.gth  of,  65 

Shillitoe,  Thomas,  reference  to. 
47;  sketch  of  (note),  181:  de- 
clines to  visit  E.  H.,  182;  refers 
to  his  traveling  minute,  183-184: 
.goes  west.  184:  converses  with 
ferry  keeper.  186:  at  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant,   186 

Sin  and   transgression,    107 

Singing,  reference  to,  20 

Slavery,    first    sermon    against,    ,36 

Slavery  question,  the,  84-94 : 
Friends  on,  8,^-94:  pamphlet  by 
I^.  H.  on,  93 

Southern  Q.  M.  members  of,  on 
E.  H.,  133-136 

Stabler.  Deborah  and  James, 
sketch  of   (note).  98 

Tallock.  William,  refers  to  E.  H.'s 

assertions,   206 
Thanksgiving.  E.  H.  on,  102-103 
Thomas.    Philip    E..    reference    to. 

98:   sketch  of   (note).  98 
Three   .sermons   reviewed.    152 

31 


242 


INDEX 


Time  of  unsettlcmenl,   130 
Titus,      Daniel,      traveling      com- 
panion of  E.  H.,  40 
Tnrner,    Frcclerick    Storrs,    refer- 
ence to,  122;  on  E.  H.,  203-204 

Unitarianisni,    E.    H.    on.    117;    in 

New   England,   121 
Unsoundness,  charge  of,  146 

War,  Revolutionary,  E.  H.  passes 
military  lines,  31  ;  E.  H.'s  "suf- 
ferings" during,  215-216 

Westbury  Monthly  Meeting,  mem- 
heVs  at  the  time  of  "separa- 
tion,"   188 

Westbury  and  Jericho  Monthly 
Meeting  (note),  50;  orders  E. 
H.  home.  50;  reference  to,  188; 
membership  of,  188;  disowns  E. 
H.,    189 

Wharton,  William,  reference  to, 
207 

Wheat,    E.    H.    sells   at   low   price, 

Whitall,  Joseph,  reports  E.  H. 
unsound,   128 

White,  George  F.,  influential  in 
disownment  of  Isaac  T.  Hop- 
per, 87 ;  on  slave  labor,  87 ;  at- 
tacks various  organizations,  87 

Whitman,  Walt,  estimation  of  E. 
H.,  205;  reference  to,  218-219; 
hears  E.  H.  preach,  219;  de- 
scribes E.  H.'s  preaching,  213 


Willis,  lulmund,  traveling  com- 
panion of   E.   H.,  38 

Willis,  John,  traveling  com- 
panion of  E.  H.,  ^2 

Willis,  Mary,  reference  to,  212; 
her  recollections  of  E.  H.,  212- 
213 

Willis,  Thomas  and  Phebe,  op- 
pose E.  H.,  124;  dealt  with  by 
Jericho  Monthly  Meeting,  125; 
reference  to,  182 

Willets,  Deborah  (note),  178; 
extract  from  letter,  179-180 

Willets,  Jacob  (note),  178;  state- 
ment about  division  in  meet- 
ings,  178 

Willets,  Joshua,  son-in-law  of  E. 
H.,  70 

Women,  equality  of,  15 

Woolman,  John,  on  slavery,  84 

World,  the,  against  mixing  with, 
103-104 


APPENDIX. 

A.    Descendants    of    Elias    Hicks, 

226-228 
P),  Letter  to  Dr.  Atlee,  229-233 

C,  The  Portraits,  234 

D,  The  Death  Mask,  234 

E,  A  Bit  of  Advertisting,  235 

F,  Acknowledgment,    235 


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